Okay, so you've already finished your "killer" resume. What's next? It's the moment of truth - the job interview. Many people are afraid of undergoing an interview because they are afraid that they might stammer, or can't think of anything once they are already face-to-face with the interviewer.
I have a friend who's afraid of applying to other company because she's afraid of what might happen to her interview. So what I did is I listed down all the possible questions that her future employer might ask to her.
Here are the 10 of the most frequently asked questions during an interview. NOTE: This is merely a guide and not to be treated as textbook answers, because there are none.
1. Tell me something about yourself. Prepare a two to three minute presentation that briefly introduces yourself (where you're from), your personal interests (hobbies, community involvement, etc.), your work history, and recent career experience, with the most time spent on detailing accomplishments in the last two areas.
2. Why do you want to join this company? This question is intended to clue them in your motivation for wanting to join. So dig up the facts about the company, it's culture and market. Don't offer "give me" -oriented answers such as "Oh, because it's such a cool place to work," "I like your salary and benefits package," or "My friends are already there and it makes it easier for us to hang out together." Instead, demonstrate what you can chip in to help achieve the company's goals and how your skills and experience match their requirements.
3. Why are you looking for a new job? This may seem like a straightforward question, but it is very easy to slip up if you are unprepared. Keep in mind that relating anything in a negative light is in bad form. Even if you got fired from your last job, try to keep your explanation honest, brief and positive. And since most terminations happen because of an ill fit between the company and the employee, not so much because of performance, your could also try taking this angle. If you left voluntarily, don't dwell on the negative reasons for leaving; instead demonstrate how you can make a significant contribution to the new company's objectives.
4. What kind of position are you looking for? Vague answers such as "I want an exciting job" or "i want to grow my skills in this area" show lack of career focus and motivation. Instead, zoom in on the position and how it stands to benefit from your skills and experience. Here's a good example: "I have a strong ability to communicate and market a product as proven in my two-year experience as marketing officer at the (name of the University/Company) I believe I understand the consumer industry and can add value to your marketing efforts."
5. What do you consider are your strengths and weaknesses? This is the time to be honest, but don't go to extremes. You don't want to 'fess up that you are really terrible at organizing and could never be on time, do you? Neither do you want to make yourself out to be the next best thing since sliced bread. Rather, be clear and concise in describing qualities that demonstrate how you take responsibility for your actions and show that you take plans to draw lessons from work experiences.
6. What do you know about our company? This is where your research should serve you well. Don't respond by repeating each fact your learned about the company, because it can seem arrogant and memorized. Do mention its major products and services, markets and the latest developments. Also try to display and eagerness to learn more about the company by asking questions yourself.
7. Where do you see yourself five years from now? Respond to reflect your drive to reach a certain level of work success by that time State realistic expectations and propose real plan on how you intend to make career progress. Never sound overly confident, fearful or confused.
8. What do you consider to be your greatest achievements? This is a way fro interviewers to gauge how you managed peoples/projects yourself in a successful manner. Mention two or three achievements that showcase a variety of strengths.
9. What tasks did you perform in your last job? Be honest and to the point, even if your assignments don't exactly match those in the new position. But also take the opportunity to mention any special projects you volunteered for or elected committee positions you held that indicate pertinent experience to the position offered.
10. When you start a new job, how do you establish good relationship with your new colleagues and supervisors? It is important here to be enthusiastic and positive. Tell them how you worked well with your past colleagues or peers in projects or committees. Networking skills are important so show how you used yours in the past to good stead.
There you go, the ten most frequently-asked questions during an interview. You must remember that you need to looked calm and under control during an interview, even if your heart is thumping like crazy inside. Feel confident, be honest and smile!
