Finding
your dream job can be long, difficult and at times even frustrating. After
spending hours perfecting your resume, researching relevant positions and
filling out numerous job applications it is time to prepare for the final step,
your interview.
Like
other steps in the job search process preparing for an interview requires thorough
research of the position offered, the organization and the skills desired in a
successful candidate. Initiating an effective and specific research prior to
attending the interview is a key factor to landing the job. During the
interview it is expected of a good candidate to show dedication to work ethics
and strong will to learn.
The
general guidelines of providing an effective answer for a job interview
questions are the same for both difficult and simple ones. An answer should be:
·
Direct
– Answer all aspects of the question discussed while providing a significant
amount of detail.
·
Concise
– The answer should be clearly stated, brief and comprehensive at the same
time.
·
Goal
Oriented – Every detail provided is meant to present a skill that is relevant
to the job description
·
Examples
– Including examples in the majority of answers is crucial to making an
interesting interview. It also provides the potential employer with a better
image of your work experience and skill set.
Top 5 Common Tough Interview
Questions:
1. Tell
me about yourself?
It is perhaps
the most commonly used opening question during interviews. When answering this
question it is important to understand the purpose of this question from the
employer’s perspective. The interviewer is not looking to hear a detailed life
story but rather a brief summary of education and professional job experience.
The length of such answer should not exceed a minute or two. Thus, every piece
of information mentioned must be relevant as a qualification for the position
offered.
2. Why
Should I Hire You?
To answer this
question you should sell yourself in the most positive way while remaining
honest and modest. The first part of the answer will discuss the professional
and educational qualifications you have and reasonably tying them to the job
description. As mentioned earlier most jobs are looking for hard working and quick
learner employees. When answering this question it is a good idea to provide
plenty of examples from past experience demonstrating your skills and how you
dealt with work related projects. Answering this question successfully is
likely to convince the interviewer how well you will deal with future
challenges. Another way is to learn about a new challenge the organization is
facing and provide an example showcasing how you successfully tackled a similar
situation in the past.
3. Tell
me about a time you failed?
The
interviewer is looking to learn more about your personality and how it will
affect future job related projects. The purpose of this question is to evaluate
your attitude towards challenges, failures and criticism. A good answer will
involve three steps:
·
discussing
an honest example of a time when you experienced difficulty completing your job
in a professional setting.
·
Show
that you took responsibility, accepted the criticism, drew conclusions and
learned from the experience.
·
Explain
how you prevented similar mistakes from reoccurring.
4. Why
is There a Gap in Your Work History?
Employers ask
this question to try and understand if you made sure to remain productive
throughout your professional career. Answer this question simply by explaining
why this gap is there in a positive light. An example would be taking the time
to focus your time and effort in college to develop your education to enjoy
better career related growth opportunities in the future.
5. Are
You a Leader or a Follower?
The
interviewer is interested to know if you can take on projects and lead groups
of people to achieve a common goal. However, at the same time they are looking
for a candidate that will be receptive to orders and be willing to function as
part of a larger group. Once again you are expected to answer this question by
providing an examples performing under both circumstances.
Finally,
in many aspects the most effective method to ace your interview is by practice.
For more information and an individual feedback, you may pass by C-102 (The
Career Development and Experiential Learning Office) and schedule an interview.
~Yosef Bagdadi
