Closing And Leaving The Interview:
Once the interview has finished and this should be fairly obvious as the interviewer will intimate that it has you will want to stand, pick up your briefcase or handbag from under the chair (if that’s where you put them) and shake hands with the interviewer (again in a firm but not grip wrenching manner!). Try and avoid the temptation to wipe your sweaty hands on your clothes in front of the interviewer – a better tactic is to just clench your hands together and rub them a couple of times gently to remove any wetness. Thank the interviewer for the time that they have afforded to you, say goodbye in a nice smiley manner and leave the room. Some people will escort you out onto the main floor others may see you out of the building but whichever try and stay as professional as possible – the jobs not yours until you have signed on the dotted line!
Generally speaking there are going to be certain questions that arise at your interview that you can pretty much expect to get asked at any other interview you attend. The great thing about this is the fact that you can rehearse your answers to these questions and with enough practice they will flow off your tongue easier than honey sipping down your throat! These questions are likely to be fired at all candidates applying for the job so although they may sound personal to you and they are to a degree these are pretty standard interview questions. So here goes you have to bear in mind that these are the responses that I would consider giving, they are obviously not set in stone and you will need to adapt answers according to your situation:
Tell Me About Yourself – Sounds a bit like the sort of question you get asked on a date! This isn’t as straight forward to answer as at first it might seem. Don’t start rambling on about how much you love watching the Simpson’s on the TV that isn’t what the interviewer is looking to hear. You probably need to answer this question with a question. Perhaps you could try saying “What would you like to know about me?” This then gives your interviewer the chance to get you to tell him exactly what information he is looking for. If possible try and keep this part of the interview to a minimum, you will know what the interviewer is looking for following his additional question which will probably have been something based around your job. If you can see if you can build into your response positives which relate to the job you are applying for. For example if it’s a sales role you could say “I am a very organised person who enjoys finding a new prospect, working with it and closing the deal, carrying out the completion from start to finish”. Sometimes your interviewer might ask about your hobbies and again you should pick out points that relate to the job your are applying for whether remote or not.
What Is the Most Enjoyable Part Of Your Current Job? - This is a fairly straight forward question but has a bit of a double meaning. Obviously there are going to be parts of your existing job that you don’t like doing – or you wouldn’t be applying for this new position would you, but your job can’t be that great either or you wouldn’t be applying for this job! Don’t get led down this route, just answer something along the lines of “your existing job is great and you can’t really put your finger on any part of your current job that you dislike you are just looking to further your career” and leave it at that. It is possible to use this question to your benefit but you need to make sure you pick something that is going to compliment the job you are applying for.
Tell Us About The Biggest Challenge You’ve Ever Faced In Your Career? - Oh wow, this is a really great question to help you shine! You are more than likely to be asked this question and it is a really great opportunity for you to blow your own trumpet or so to speak. Pick a challenge where you have been successful and explain how you overcame the challenge and the outcome. This question can also be used by the interviewer to gauge what you consider to be a challenge so this is a bit of a crafty one as well.
Why Do You Want To Leave Your Present Job? - This is a bit of a stupid question really as the chances of the interviewer getting a straight answer are fairly limited. Lets face it if the job your in doesn’t pay very well and you want more money you are going to be looking for a new job. It might be that your current boss is a complete idiot and you don’t like him, it could be you can’t stand working with John in accounts, lets face it you aren’t going to say any of these are you. I think a standard response along the lines of “I feel that I have outgrown the company I am in and I feel my contribution as part of a team could be put to much better use with a larger or more focused company where I can expand my skills further. I am really interested in……..but my existing employer doesn’t have the resources to let me advance in this area” and leave it at that. Just try not to be negative about the job you are leaving it doesn’t look good.
What Is Your Present Boss Like? - Another question posed by interviewers to gauge your loyalty and integrity. It is not a good idea to be critical about any of the employers you have ever worked for. Lets face it very few of us actually like our bosses (well most of us just placate them and tell them what they want to hear), after all why would you possibly want to be best buddies with a person who holds you career prospects in their hands! If you get asked this question the most appropriate reply is “I like my boss and get on very well with him, I respect his experience and he is good at his job”. You really don’t need to expand any further on this issue at interview stage. You have to remember that the person interviewing you may well, at some point in the near future, become your boss and they are weighing up your loyalty and integrity.
What Do You Think This Job Entails? - Now when you are applying for a new job the chances are you are going to know something about what your new job would entail. For example, if the job is a secretarial role and you are a secretary you will know what sort of work you are going to be involved with. In any case you will have been given a brief description of the job role and what responsibilities it carries with it so you should be able to make a fairly calculated guess at what the job entails.
What Do You Know This Organisation? - Now if you have taken my earlier advice you will have done your research and read up about what the company is involved in, its products, its turnover and its strategy. You will really impress your interviewer if you are able to show that you have done some research about their company. As previously mentioned people like to think that if you are really eager to work for them you will have done some research about what they do and how they do it. So lets say you are applying for a job with someone like Marks & Spencer you could say something like “I notice that you are one of the leading stores who operate a “Fair Trade Policy” when purchasing your goods from third world countries I have to say that I am very supportive of this and it’s nice to work for an employer who cares about the impact their business has on people in the outside world”.
What Made You Apply For This Job And Why Do You Want It? - This is a bit of a double edged question. Your interviewer isn’t necessarily looking for an answer here that is straight forward – you know you are applying for the job because you think you would enjoy doing it, the package is right and you think you would be able to advance your career with this firm – but the interviewer wants to see if there are some specifics that really attract you to it (other than the £ 50,000 per year and BMW 3 series!). So dependent upon what the role is you could use an answer such as “I am a very well organised person and this role involves exceptional management skills. I thrive under pressure and it makes me perform to my full ability which makes me think that I would really enjoy it”. Obviously you can tailor this answer to whatever role you are applying for.
What Qualities Do You Think You Can Bring To This Job Position? - Again, you know that you can do this job and that is why you have applied for it. Not only do you know that you can do the job, you will do it better than any one else so you will be aware of the qualities you are going to bring to this business. You will have reviewed the job spec and the key responsibilities so you will be able to select several areas where you feel your qualities will stand out. Perhaps you could therefore give an answer along the lines of “I have experience working in the complaints department where a sympathetic touch is required dealing with disgruntled customers. I am very tactful and am able to defuse situations using my personal skills”.
How Long Would You Expect To Work For Our Organisation? - Let’s face it no employer wants to go through the hassle and cost of hiring a new candidate if the candidate only stays with them for 6 months and then decides to apply to another firm. The recruitment process is a long an expensive one especially where agencies are used to introduce the candidate. This could cost your potential employer as much as 30% of your first year’s package! It’s probably a good idea therefore to intimate that you would like to work for this firm for several years minimum and you could provide an answer along the lines of “I like the way your company is continuing to expand and I would like to be part of that on a long term basis. So I would like to think that I could continue to work for you for a lengthy period of time providing my career continues to progress”.
What’s Your Greatest Strength? - Only you can answer this question, but it is a question that will more than likely be asked, after all, the interviewer wants to know what you are good at. This question gives you pretty much an open mandate to really show off, or so to speak. When answering this question try and provide strengths that relate to the role that you are applying for, so if the job requires the need to be organised and a good team leader provide these as strengths within your answer.
What Is Your Biggest Weakness? - Bit of a tricky question this, after all no one wants to show their weaknesses but we all have them. The most comprehensive way of dealing with this question is to try and turn it into a “positive” from a “negative”. So you could perhaps say “my biggest weakness is buying the kids sweets when they ask for them in the shop” or “I really dislike washing the car at the weekend but once I have done it I always feel a real sense of satisfaction”.
Where Do You See Yourself In Five Years Time? - Don’t say as I have heard so many times “sitting in your job!” although I have a sense of humour most interviewers don’t. The remark often has an element of truth hanging in the background and you don’t want your interviewer thinking you are potentially a threat to his or her job in the future. I am sure you will have ideas about where you want to be in a few years most people, whether they put them down on paper or not, have a good idea of their long term career objectives. Try and answer the question positively but not too arrogantly – perhaps you could say offer an answer such as “I have always been very career minded and ambitious. I would like to keep progressing up the career ladder and feel that your organisation will be able to offer me that opportunity”.
What Would Your Work Colleagues Say About You? - This question provides another opportunity for you to demonstrate that you are easy to get on with, a team player and a generally amenable person who works well with other people. You could answer this question with a quote such as “I am an organised, approachable, dependable, easy to get on with team member who is always willing to offer my advice or assistance to colleagues where needed”. Don’t go over board with your answer making out you are something you are not – you may get away with stretching the truth but if you are not a “natural team leader” don’t say you are!
What Would Your Friends Say About You? - Obviously this question is similar to the one above. If you are a popular, kind, caring person who can be counted on and would help a friend out at the drop of a hat then let your interviewer know.
What Interests Do You Have Outside Of Your Work? - This will be a definite question (in my opinion) and is posed by your interviewer to try and ascertain what you are like outside of your working environment. If you don’t like football or snooker don’t say that you do, just provide honest answers. There is nothing worse than saying you follow a sport and then it turning out that the interviewer is mad about the subject and starts asking you questions you can’t answer you will look a fool and your honesty will be under scrutiny!
What Type Of Books Or Publications Do You Like? - This question needs and honest answer. Just because you think the interviewer is looking to hear you tell them that you have just finished “Marketing Skills Made Easy” and that it was the best read of your life it isn’t a good idea to make it up. If you have genuinely read “David Jason’s” autobiography or “Stephen Kings” latest books then tell the employer what you enjoyed about them. Of course if you work within certain industries, read the trade publications and have recently read an interesting article about the latest “blue widget release” then by all means use this as an example.
We know all interview questions are tough but these are the real hard ones! Generally these questions aren’t asked to make your life difficult or to make you squirm they are simply asked so that the interviewer can find out what he wants to know in the best possible way. When you are posed with a difficult question which you find awkward to answer it puts you under pressure. Therefore there may be certain questions that are delivered to you to see how well you deal with that pressure – not an unreasonable request if the new job you are applying for is likely to carry and element of pressure. Just remember there is no need to get worked up or frightened, as I keep saying, if you have done your research and prepared properly for the interview these questions won’t be half as difficult as you think. When a question is posed to you try and keep calm, think about the question for a few moments and deliver your answer accordingly. So here we go!
Are You A Good Leader? - Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with the people who work under you. Perhaps you could answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm but fair with the people who work for me and find that I get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.
How Do You Feel About Taking Direction From Your Superiors? - This is a very valid question from any potential employer. If you have a boss who is delegating work to you your boss will want to know that you are able to deal with his requests and execute them in the manner dictated. You will therefore want to be answering this question along the lines of “I take direction from my superiors well. After all no team can work properly unless they are able to accept instructions from their superior”.
How Do You Feel About Carrying Out Mundane or Repetitive Work? - Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or not and I always give 100% to my job”.
Are You A Natural Born Leader? - Some of us are natural born leaders and they are usually the people heading up teams or managing departments. Natural born leaders are chosen for the role of management or leadership because of their ability to guide and deal with people. They are usually people who possess enthusiasm, confidence and good leadership qualities. Try and build something into your answer that shows these qualities, it hasn’t necessarily got to include areas of your work life, however it’s better if it does, but you could use and example of something in your personal life such as being “head of the local under 16’s football team” or “head of your local cricket team” but whatever you choose try and choose something that makes your leadership qualities stand out.
How Well Do You Handle Criticism? - Everyone gets criticised in the job they do at some point in their career whether you feel that the criticism is right or wrong there are always two sides to every situation. An ideal answer to this question might be “We all at some point make mistakes and I am more than happy to take on board any constructive criticism that is given to me as it helps me understand and learn from the situation”.
How Well Do You Work Within A Team Environment? - Teamwork is very important to an employer. A properly functioning team will create a happy workplace and smooth, efficient production regardless of the product or service involved. Everyone has a different approach to how they deal with their colleagues so you will need to tailor the answer to this question to your own approach. Perhaps you could offer an answer like “I really enjoy working as a member of a team. There is a feeling of comradeship in that we are all working towards the same goal and that when we meet our objective we all benefit from the feeling of success”.
What Motivates You? - Your interviewer is not looking for an answer along the lines of “£ 100,000 per year and a Bentley Turbo!” lets face it that’s what we would all like! Try and give a constructive answer such as “I get a real kick out of completing a project. This drives me along the way and I get satisfaction at each stage of the project knowing that I will have made a contribution to the end result”.
Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of Your Team? - An interviewer asking this question is looking for an answer that shows how you manage and run your team that work for you in order to achieve the best performance out of them. Your answer should include areas that show your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people that work for you such as communication skills and praise.
You Have Only Been With Your Employer A Very Short Time - Why? - As I have mentioned before the recruitment process is a long and expensive one. Where recruitment agencies are used to source candidates their fee may be as much as 30% of your first years annual package let alone the costs associated with any additional training you may need so the last thing an employer wants to do is employ a candidate who is only going to work for them for five minutes and then look for another job! If you have been with previous employer for a short period of time then you need to find an answer that is going to reassure the interviewer’s doubts and put his mind at rest. It is possible in this situation that you could use a line such as “Yes I have only been with my existing employer a relatively short period of time and have found that I have had to more to gain more experience and enhance my career but I feel that I am now ready to settle down in a position I am comfortable with for a long period of time”.
How Do You Deal With Interpersonal Problems Within Your Team? - Nothing runs smoothly all the time and from time to time there will be disputes amongst members of your team. Obviously your answer will probably come from your own experience here but areas such as being fair by hearing both sides of the dispute, dealing with the problem in private and not causing embarrassment in front of others and looking for a compromise between the individuals may all come into play.
How Would Your Current Boss Describe You? - “Your useless and should look for another job before I fire you!!”. Just kidding (or maybe not in some cases!!). Remember at some point in the future the man or woman sitting in the chair opposite you could well be your future employer. When you answer this question provide an answer in a way that you think you would like your boss to actually think of you. So perhaps you can say something like “I get on very well with my boss and we have an excellent working relationship. I think that the reason we get on well is due to the fact that we have mutual respect for each other. My boss considers me as a hard working, loyal and efficient employee who is able to work well using my own initiative and can trust me to carry out the work given to me without having to bother him”. It’s not a terribly good idea to blatantly lie about your relationship with your boss if it’s horrendous as it may come out in references that are taken later however under the employment law past employers have to be very careful how they word references and are not allowed to tear your personality apart!
What Part Of Your Job Do You Dislike The Most? - Well the answer to this can’t be “I am completely happy with my job and I enjoy every aspect of it as it fulfils my daily working hours with joy and happiness and I just wish I could do it 24 hours a day 365 days a year!!”. Why not? Because you wouldn’t be applying for this job if it was would you!? Don’t give answers that are purely motivated by money and benefits – even if that is the case. You might genuinely love your job but the money is crap but that isn’t what the interviewer wants to hear. Perhaps you could use a line like “I really do enjoy my current job and quite frankly there aren’t really any areas of my work that I can honestly say I dislike. However, the company I work for is small and I don’t get much chance to deal with new business very often which is an area I really find exciting and feel that this job would be able to offer me that opportunity”. Of course there may be an area you dislike in your job but if you decide to bring it up then try and create a positive out of it. For example “I used to find doing my filing at the end of the day a bit time consuming as I would always get distracted by more important issues to deal with so I decided that I would come in a bit earlier each morning to deal with this enabling me to start the day fresh and be left with a bit of spare time at the end of each day should something really important come up”.
If You Were Starting Out Again In Your Career Are There Any Decisions You Would Choose Differently? - Hey come on what a nonsense question really. No one can turn back the clock so it’s completely irrelevant isn’t it but this is one of those questions some interviewers like to pose. The only answer I can think of giving is “I wouldn’t change anything. I have been more than happy with all of the decisions I have made in my career and don’t feel that I can gain any benefit out of looking back and analysing something I cannot change”.
You Have Been With Your Employer A Long Time - Why? - To be honest I think this question is a bit unfair. There could be many reasons why you have shown loyalty to your existing employer for a lengthy period of time – it may be that you just liked your job and the people you have worked for but circumstances have changed or it might be that you have had a wide and varied career working in different parts of the company doing different job roles or you may have worked overseas for the same company. People don’t generally stay with the same employer in this day and age predominantly because it isn’t always easy to get promoted internally within an organisation so it could look to an interviewer that you have been unable to get another job. Of course this probably isn’t the case so build your answer around the facts.
Do You Feel That Your Career Has Been A Success To Date? - Again, another no brainer question that really has no bearing on whether you are capable of doing the job you are applying for or whether or not you are the right person for the job! Success can only really be measured by the person who it applies to, what one person thinks is successful another may think is unsuccessful and I genuinely think very few people actually feel that their career has been a failure. The only way to address this question is to say “Yes I feel my career has been successful to date and I have been more than happy with my career progression. I have always put emphasis on enjoying the job I do and not how much it pays or what benefits I can gain from it and have found so far that this strategy has worked well for me”.
We Think You Might Be Overqualified For This Job! - If you were overqualified for this job would you be applying for it? Well I guess in an interviewers mind it could be that you are desperate, or it may be that you are desperate! A future employer doesn’t want to think he is going to take you on if you are going to get bored in five minutes because the job is too easy and then start looking elsewhere again. This is a difficult question to answer but you could intimate that you have a very low boredom threshold and that everything you do, you do to the best of your ability.
