This article will look at the structure of your interview and see how you can succeed by promoting your Positive Characteristics. The basics of your initial interview with a firm are the same whether the interview is held on-campus or in the firm's offices.
The five typical phases of an interview, and their approximate lengths, are:
- Small talk (ice breaker)-a few minutes
- Opening question-a few minutes
- Follow-up questions-15 to 20 minutes
- Your questions-about 5 minutes
- Closing: Ask for the Job-1 or 2 minutes
Small Talk
Your interview is likely to begin with a low-keyed question-"Can you believe this weather?" or 'Have you been following the college football team?' This kind of question has three purposes.
- The interviewer wants to break the ice with you. The best way is to ask something you won't find threatening.
- The interviewer wants to put you at ease. If you are less nervous, the interview will be more informative--a benefit to both you and the interviewer.
- A low-keyed question helps the interviewer to see whether you can make small talk--a useful skill in business. In some firms, if you can't make small talk, you won't get the job.
Opening Question
After a few minutes of small talk, your interviewer will ask the first question that is related to the heart of your interview. Typical opening questions might be:
- 'Alice, tell me why you chose to attend Emeritus College.'
- 'Bill, why did you decide to become a marketing major?'
- 'Craig, please tell me about yourself.'
- The interviewer is likely to ask one or two follow-up questions based on your answer. If you include in your response the topics you would like to discuss further, you can set the agenda for your interview, at least partially.
- During the first five minutes, the interviewer usually forms an impression of you, whether positive or negative; the rest of the interview serves to confirm that initial impression. The interviewer will tend to hear what supports his or her initial impression and to screen out information that conflicts with it.
Interviewer: Alice, tell me why you chose to attend Emeritus College.
Alice: I chose to attend Emeritus College because it has a good academic reputation, you can select some very interesting courses, and I could afford the tuition. I knew that I would be paying for a good portion of my expenses, so this was an important consideration.
I am glad I came to Emeritus. In addition to a good education, which challenged me to think, I learned how to be self-reliant, a good communicator, and a leader among my peers.
Follow-Up Questions
To a clear, concise answer like Alice's, an interviewer will likely follow up by asking more about one of the topics mentioned in the answer. Alice had introduced four topics: academic excellence, self-reliance, communication, and leadership.
Interviewer: Alice, you mentioned that you are a leader among your peers. Can you tell me how you have developed your leadership skills.
Alice (listens for the intent of the question: to initiate discussion of examples of her leadership; decides to give three examples of the leadership she has shown while in college): My first leadership position at the University was as a residence hall delegate. I organized students on my floor to demand that loud music be banned after 10:00 P.M. during the week. The next year, I was elected president of the business club. I chaired meetings, delegated tasks to members, and represented the club in front of the student council.
I'll give you another example. Last summer, I worked as an intern at Good Buy Department Stores. We were breaking down several old displays when word came that the chairman was going to visit our floor. Even though I had no formal authority, I persuaded the other workers to skip lunch so that we could finish breaking down the old displays and put up the new ones before 1:00 P.M. Was that chairman impressed by the ideas in our new displays! It's a good thing we got them up so fast.
The interviewer may wish to follow up on one of Alice's examples. The interviewer's goals would be to see whether Alice can discuss a subject in more depth and whether Alice's story is credible.
How Should You Address Your Interviewer?
- Your interview is a business meeting between equals. If the interviewer calls you by your first name, it is not rude to use first-name address in reply.
- You should feel comfortable with the address you use. If a first name feels awkward, use "Mr." or "Ms."
- You are usually safer being conservative. If rubbing your interviewer the wrong way is a major concern, use "Mr." or "Ms."
Alice paused a moment here, to collect her thoughts. She thought about the point of the question: Alice's role in the situation. What was it about Alice's reasoning, presentation, or relationship with her co-workers that persuaded them to skip lunch and set up the displays? Alice responded in terms of her role in the situation.
Alice: That's a good question. Let me think about it for a minute. (Pauses a moment to collect her thoughts.) I think there were several reasons why my co-workers listened to me. First, I had a good point to make. We all wanted to be known as the best department in the store. What better way than impressing the chairman? Second, I said it in the right way-- not like an order, but more like a challenge. Besides, over the course of the summer, we were becoming friends. When the other workers saw how important it was to me to get the displays up, they decided to pitch in. After we all agreed to skip lunch, I announced that I was buying pizza and soda for the whole crew after work. A happy chairman and a delicious pizza-not bad!
Alice showed that she can discuss a subject in greater depth and she identified three important characteristics (good reasoning, appropriate communication style, and friendship building). In addition, she made her opening response believable by backing it up--and added a spontaneous note of light humor to boot! The interviewer went on to another subject from Alice's opening response.
The Question-Answer-Question Cycle
This brief excerpt from Alice's interview is an example of the question-answer-question cycle. When you understand how the cycle works, use it to your advantage, just as Alice did.
Let's review what happened.
- The interviewer asked Alice why she had chosen to attend Emeritus College.
- Alice listened to the question and directed her response to it.
- Alice included in her response the qualities she wanted followed. Based on her preparation, Alice knew that those qualities were important to the interviewer's firm and that she was strong in those areas.
- The interviewer followed up on leadership because Alice had raised interesting and relevant points that were worth more in-terview time, and because the follow-up gave the interview an easy flow rather than having a constant stop-and-start pattern.
- Alice addressed the second question with examples that validated her claim to have leadership characteristics.
- The interviewer followed up on one of those examples with a third question, directed toward Alice's work experience. (Some interviewers might have chosen an academic example.) In asking how Alice had managed to succeed as a leader, the real questions were: Was Alice's claim to leadership credible and could she discuss a subject in some depth?
- When Alice addressed the third question, she gave plausible reasons for her being a successful leader, and each of her reasons represented a positive characteristic. Alice thus prompted the interviewer to ask a question based on these additional Positive Characteristics.
- The interviewer decided to refer in the fourth question to Alice's first answer, not her third answer. The question-answer-question cycle was restarted, and Alice had set the possible topics for this new cycle by what she had included in her answer to the first question.
Alice then had a chance to discuss not only her self-reliance but also her time-management skills. She was able to set the agenda, at least for the early part of her interview. You can set the agenda, too. The strategy remains the same, even though every individual is different. Listen to the question; think about it for a moment; then respond. Include the Positive Characteristics you want the interviewer to know about and follow up on.
Let's take another example. Bill, a marketing major, is interviewing today with General Thrills, a firm that makes breakfast cereals. This is how Bill might respond to his opening question.
Interviewer: Bill, why did you decide to become a marketing major?
Bill: One of my main reasons for going to college was to come out with a job. My family isn't rich, and I knew that I would have to work for a living. Marketing graduates seemed to do well professionally.
There's something more. I was curious to learn about how businesses work and how things get done. I have a better understanding now of how my breakfast cereal got all the way from an Iowa cornfield to my local supermarket. My classroom experiences as a marketing major have been even better than I expected.
Bill's brief answer shows that his pragmatic reasons for choosing his major were reinforced by a related intellectual curiosity. These are two of Bill's Positive Characteristics. The interviewer is likely to follow up by asking Bill something specific about his major, what career plans he has developed, or what he has liked best about college. These are three areas Bill has prepared for and wants to discuss.
Craig, a psychology major who is not a JSC member, wants to build a career in bank operations. When he was asked 'Please tell me about yourself,' instead of giving a historical narrative, Craig felt more comfortable describing himself with adjectives. He chose descriptives that identified his Positive Characteristics, especially those that were important for success in bank operations.
Craig: (after pausing to collect his thoughts): I'm a well-organized, hardworking person with good communication and interpersonal skills. I'm the kind of person who really focuses my energy on achieving a goal, once I've identified it. I can give you some examples if you like. [The interviewer will almost surely follow up on one or more of the terms Craig has used to describe himself.]
Interviewer: Craig, you've mentioned some interesting things about yourself. Can you give me an example of your interpersonal skills?
Craig: Let me give you an example from last summer. I was working for a medium-size wholesale hardware distributor. Since my job was to expedite the shipment of orders, I had to communicate with the warehouse workers about which orders had priority and the importance of coordinating schedules with the trucks coming into the loading docks. The president and marketing vice president were especially concerned that orders be sent promptly and correctly, an area where they had had some problems in the past. I had to communicate the goals of the manager to the warehouse workers in a way they could accept. Remember, I was the new kid on the block, and summer help to boot! I also had to let the senior managers know in a nice way that they had to be careful about how much to expect from the warehouse workers or they might feed a growing sense of resentment.
In these few sentences, Craig has:
- Validated his claim to have good communication and interpersonal skills by giving a credible example;
- Demonstrated that he was more than 'just a student' by choosing an example from his work life rather than his academic life.
- Showed a sensitivity to reactions to a new employee by his reference to being the 'new kid on the block';
- Indicated that he was able to deal with both blue-collar workers and white-collar managers--a critical skill in bank operations management.
Your interviewer knows that he or she has less than 30 minutes to conduct your interview. The small talk, the initial question, your response, and the resulting follow-up questions will probably take 8 to 10 minutes. Your interviewer can then proceed in three basic ways:
- Follow the flow of the discussion in progress. This approach makes a lot of sense, especially if you have been raising useful points in your answers. For example, your interviewer may follow up by asking you how you managed to work, be involved in extracurricular activities, and still do well academically. You would probably want to respond with a discussion of your time-management skills.
- Clarify or examine the items on your resume. Let's assume, for example, that you have had a part-time job as a table server in a restaurant--not a spectacular job, but you has made the most of it on your resume:
Giving Examples with Your Answers
Examples give your answers a context and, if they make sense, a good measure of credibility.
Interviewer: Why do you feel you would make a good salesperson?
Your reply (sample): A good salesperson needs to have several skills that I know I possess. For example, I demonstrated my time-management skills by maintaining good grades while working 15 to 20 hours a week. In the course of my club activities, I utilized my abilities in persuasion. I convinced club members to adopt my programs and ideas despite their initial objections. When I was a receptionist for Happy Corporation, I learned to listen well to what people really meant or wanted when they came to my desk.
This type of answer shows that you know some of the attributes you would need as a salesperson and you have demonstrated them. You project competence even though you have had no direct selling experience.
Interviewer: What was your greatest achievement while attending college?
Your reply (sample): Just being admitted was an achievement, because my college is so selective. But the main thing for me is how much I have grown as a person. For example, when I came here, I was fairly narrow in my view of the world. Now, through meeting people from other towns and other countries, I have learned that different people will have different, intelligent viewpoints. I have also learned how to get along comfortably with people from a wide variety of backgrounds.
The interviewer may wish to clarify how you persuaded customers to order more than they had planned; whether showing a cheerful exterior in adverse circumstances made you feel dishonest; or what motivated you to work so hard. Be ready for any of those questions. You might even write your resume so that it prompts those questions.
3. Ask his or her standard questions, following company policy or personal preference. It is impossible to know exactly what a particular interviewer's questions will be, but the sample questions given later in this article will prepare you for almost anything that might be asked.
No matter which of the three approaches your interviewer takes, you will be ready to answer well if you remember to give examples with your answers and you take the advice in the annotations to the interview questions in this article.
Ten Common Interview Questions
Keep the following principles in mind when you form your response to an interview question:
- Be sure that your answer conveys one or more of your Positive Characteristics.
- Be sure each example you cite is significant. Your choice of major or your summer jobs might be significant; your choice of running shoes is not.
- Avoid the very personal when discussing yourself. For example, a discussion of your decisions regarding a romantic relationship is inappropriate. Your interview is a business meeting.
The key here is to show how you make decisions and what motivates you. This was Gabrielle's answer.
Gabrielle: When I started to apply to colleges, there were several things I knew I wanted: a good education, a reasonable tuition, and the chance for an active extracurricular and social life.
I visited several colleges, but Emeritus was most appealing to me because it met the basic criteria I mentioned. I entered without knowing what major to choose. Through friends, I discovered that business courses were interesting and that the business majors at Emeritus seemed to do well professionally. Based on those two factors, I decided to become a business major.
In this response, Gabrielle utilized the principles you should keep in mind. She conveyed at least one Positive Characteristic (she cited careful preparation, and well-balanced goals of education, career, and social life), she supported her statement with a significant example (her process in choosing Emeritus College), and she avoided the very personal even though she was discussing an important personal decision.
2. What Were Your Most Favorite Course and Your Least Favorite Course?
Think about the intent of this question. Does it really ask you to rank-order your courses? No. Answer in terms of a course you enjoyed (or didn't enjoy) and indicate why. Alice's response showed that a 'favorite' course didn't have to come from business.
Alice: One course I liked a lot was American history. The professor really challenged us to think about the complexity of issues that seemed so simple when we studied them in high school. We had to write a lot of research papers, but the professor took the time to read them and make suggestions, so it was worth the effort.
Alice really did enjoy her American history course, so this is an honest answer. In addition, Alice has let her interviewer know that she possesses intellectual curiosity and interests beyond her major. Those are two Positive Characteristics.
3. What Interests You About a Career in the Field You Are Applying For?
This is a way to probe one of the twin peaks: 'Why do you want to work for us?' David, who is interested in a sales career, gave an honest and effective response.
David: I want sales as a career because I know I can succeed and make a very good living. It takes good time management, persuasive skills, and a healthy competitive spirit to succeed at sales, and I have all three. For example, I've been able to earn good grades while working part-time and participating in intramural sports. In Softball, I'm the guy who dives head-first to catch a sinking liner if that's what it takes to win. And I'm persuasive. Last semester, for example, I convinced the Student Government to increase its allocation for intramurals even after it had announced a general freeze on everybody's budget.
David has shown that he is motivated by a factor well understood in sales--money. He has also given examples to show that he has the basic characteristics needed to succeed in the sales profession.
4. What Have You Gained from Your Summer Work Experiences? Compare and Contrast Two of Those Experiences.
This is a two-part question, so pause and think about the two parts of your answer. Then respond to each part separately.
The first part, what you have gained from your summer work experiences, is really a subdivision of a twin peaks question: 'Why should we hire you?' This composite answer can be used as a model.
Your reply: I've learned a lot of things from my summer experiences. Let me tell you about a few of them. One thing I learned was how to remain cheerful, at least on the outside, even while in a tense situation. I did this by not taking the situation at hand personally. For example, when I worked at my first summer job, I learned to understand that the client was hassling me as The Employee, not me as a person. That approach put sticky situations in a more bearable perspective.
When I was a lifeguard at Hampton Beach, I learned how to remain alert to my task-water safety-even when nothing dangerous seemed to be going on. That's important, because if you're not alert, someone can drown in a flash.
Pause before you compare your summer jobs. It is most logical to compare the two jobs you've just mentioned.
Your reply: You asked me to compare and contrast my summer jobs. I'll focus on the two I just mentioned. Both jobs required interaction with the public in ways I couldn't predict, but I had to respond professionally. My first job was very structured; being a lifeguard required more independent judgment.
If you're wondering whether you have answered the interviewer's question, act as you would at a business meeting: clarify the situation.
Your reply: I wonder, have I answered both parts of your question?
The interviewer will probably say 'Yes." If, instead, the response is 'Please give me some more examples of what you learned from your summer jobs,' you will know exactly where to pick up with your response.
5. What Do You See as the Greatest Challenge to our Industry over the Next Five Years?
This may sound like an awesome question, but don't be overwhelmed by it. You prepared for this question when you researched the Fifteen Things to Know About a Company. This was Hector's reply.
Hector: It seems to me that the internationalization of the economy is an enormous challenge. On the one hand, it presents the opportunity to find least-cost suppliers anywhere on the globe and to sell to an enor-mous market. On the other hand, competitors within the industry can use the same opportunities to reduce their costs and expand their customer base. That means that this firm will have more factors to take into account when planning its strategy.
Would you like me to tell you where I think other challenges are going to come from?
Interviewer: Yes, I would; I'm very interested in what you've been saying.
Hector: Well, let me say a few things about the role of governments in business. Because of concerns about the environment, public safety, and other issues, our government seems to be getting more involved in areas that would affect the firm, like pollution caused by factories. As the business becomes more international, it will have to deal with many governments, not just one. That could really make things interesting.
6. What Character from History or Literature Do You Admire Most? Why?
This is a straightforward question. The interviewer is probing your interests in history, literature and public affairs (all pluses) and your ability to discuss intelligently a subject of general interest.
Pick a character you admire from literature or history (not necessarily the one you admire most) or a character from business. After you identify the individual, give a little background, unless it's someone famous like Abraham Lincoln. Then explain what you admire about that person.
If the question refers specifically to a character in business, pick a business personality you studied about in class or can discuss intelligently based on your reading of the business press.
David answered the question this way.
David: One character from history I admire a great deal is Benjamin Franklin. He was one of the greatest people of his generation, excelling in science, business, and literature. Franklin managed to combine high intellect with good humor, and private success with public service. I admire those characteristics.
7. What Was the Most Difficult Decision You Ever Had to Make? How Did You Make That Decision?
Identify a difficult decision, not necessarily the most difficult decision you ever had to make.
Every person makes many decisions during life, so your answer has to be your own. Judith, who was not a JSC member but had a particularly strong resume, gave this response.
Judith (after pausing for a moment to collect her thoughts): The decision to take a co-op at IBM was very difficult for me. I was just a sophomore, and I really wanted to work as a lifeguard so I could be with my friends. Also, if I lived at home, I could save my salary, but I had to pay my expenses when I went to IBM at Oswego.
On the other hand, I knew that the experience at IBM would be very helpful to my career and that I'd have to learn to live on my own sometime.
I'm glad I made the decision I did. In terms of my career, the IBM co-op gave me a chance to apply my analytical skills in a real corporate context. I also gained confidence by adjusting to a new social environment in a strange place and being happy there.
Judith achieved several objectives with her answer:
- She conveyed some of her Positive Characteristics--a career focus early in college; social maturity; willingness to try something inconvenient and disconcerting as part of a growth experience.
- She made it clear that she was ready to relocate, an important consideration for the company with which she was interviewing that day.
- She strengthened the perception that she could apply her academic skills in a corporate context.
- Convey some Positive Characteristics
- Choose a significant example
- Social concerns are o.k., but avoid the very personal
When you look back on your college career, you may find that there are subjects you now wish you had studied. Time constraints or the pressure of required courses may have precluded them. Perhaps only retrospectively are you attracted to academic courses you didn't pursue. If this is the case, feel free to say so. (The course in question need not be in your major.) Be prepared for a follow-up question such as 'Why didn't you study XV Don't apologize; just explain the reason. Very few people accomplish everything they want to in a limited period of time.
Unless the question specifies academic learning, you could discuss cultural or social learning opportunities that you are sorry to have missed.
This is how Alice answered the 'looking back' question.
Alice: I have enjoyed my 3 years at Emeritus College and I am happy with the way I've grown here. Still, as I look back, I wish that I had taken some more courses in history. I think it's important to understand the background of how we got where we are.
I've joined an inexpensive article-of-the-month club that specializes in history. There is life after college.
Life doesn't end with graduation. Educational, social, and cultural opportunities are almost always present in some form everywhere. Indicate how you plan to learn in the future those things you feel you missed in the past. In my own case, I wish I had studied Spanish in college, but I didn't. However, I did study Spanish for two years after I became a placement director. It's never too late.
9. How Would a Friend Describe You in Three Words?
When Bill was asked this question, he kept my principles in mind. I have identified them in Bill's answer. Bill paused for a moment to collect his thoughts before answering. He realized that this question is really like 'Why Should We Hire You?' and he mentally reviewed his twin peaks of interviewing chart.
Bill: I think a friend would describe me as hard-working, reliable, and competitive. [Bill is conveying some of his Positive Characteristics.] Let me tell you why. [Bill is about to support his statement with significant examples.]
People notice that I put myself into whatever I do, whether in class or at work. That's why people want to be on class projects with me and why my boss gives me so much responsibility at work. I'm reliable because I'll do whatever is necessary to fulfill a commitment. Last week, I promised to pick up a friend at the train station. My car broke down, but I borrowed a car from another friend and got to the station on time.
Although I like to cooperate with my team, I like to beat the competition, as we did last week in our marketing project. [Bill has avoided comments that are very personal.]
10. Are There Any Questions You Would Like to Ask Me?
There had better be! Check out Hector's.
What the Questions Represent
These ten questions match the flow of a typical interview. As you think about your possible answers, remember to give examples with your answers.
A Resume-Interview Question Link
Although the primary purpose of your resume is to get you into the interview room, your resume may also be used as a source for interview questions. There are several reasons for this link:
- By connecting a question to your resume, the interviewer may make the question seem more tailored to you as an individual;
- The interviewer may have found something on your resume that is especially interesting or needs clarification;
- Questions about some of your work experiences may give some insight about how you handle yourself in a job. This is particularly true if the work experience on your resume is closely related, by function or industry, to the job you are seeking.
This preparation will help you even if your interviewer doesn't ask you anything directly from your resume.
These questions are only a sample of what you may hear at an interview. Every interview runs its own course. However, if you practice the questions I have given you and understand the question-answer-question cycle, you will have a solid basis for answering any question at your interview.
A Sampling of Difficult Questions
Students, over the past years, have shared with me questions they found particularly difficult. Generally, there are no 'right' answers to interview questions. However, the questions and sample responses below should be of assistance to you.
1. What Was the Most Difficult Task You Encountered on a fob?
Whenever you are asked for the 'most,' 'best,' 'worst,' or other superlative, remember this: Just think of an example, not necessarily the ultimate experience. Here, think of a difficult task. Describe the problem and how you overcame it. If possible, tell the interviewer what you learned from the experience. If you are asked to describe the hardest decision you had to make, identify a hard decision.
2. What Is a Recent Risk You Have Taken?
Remember that your response should come from your own experience. No one will expect you to be a major investor risking millions of dollars on a new product design. It is helpful, although not necessary, to give an example related to the position for which you are interviewing.
Let's say, for example, that the question is asked at a sales interview. Your example could relate to the risk of being rejected at the interview. (Rejection is a common experience in sales.) You could say, 'I took a risk in applying for this position because I could have been rejected. However, I want this job, so I applied. I know that I have to take chances to have a chance to get the things I want in life.'
3. How Do You Overcome Obstacles?
One approach is to take a broad question like this and reduce it to a specific example. Think of an obstacle you confronted, perhaps recently. Describe the obstacle briefly and explain how you overcame it. Hector answered the 'obstacles' question this way.
Hector: When I was working at Smallco during the summer, I was responsible for researching the overhead costs associated with one of our products. One of the regular staff members--I'll call him 'George'-- refused to give me some important information I absolutely needed. At first, I was really miffed, but I kept my frustration to myself.
I started to think about ways to remove this obstacle. I wanted to avoid going to George's manager, if possible. I decided that maybe George felt threatened or insulted because a summer worker was asking for the information. So I went to George again and approached the issue differently. I asked him to help me find ways to evaluate the overhead costs. George gave me the information I needed and some really good advice besides.
4. Discuss a Problem You Have Solved.
It would be helpful to identify a situation in which you demonstrated a Positive Characteristic-a capability, skill, or attribute that would be useful in the position for which you are interviewing. For example, if you are interviewing for a position that requires people management, describe a situation in which your interpersonal skills were important. Perhaps you solved a conflict in a residence hall, motivated members of a club, or dealt with morale problems at a place of work.
5. What Aspect of a Sales Job Would You Find Unattractive?
You would probably like some aspects of any job less than others. For example, you might not like the paperwork that must be completed following a sale. In that case, you could say that you wouldn't enjoy doing the paperwork. However, add that you realize how important it is, so you would put all necessary energy into doing it well.
Bill: I am interested in a career in sales because I know it will be interesting and financially rewarding. At the same time, I know that every job has its drawbacks. The thing I least like about sales is all the paperwork. However, I know that doing it well is a necessary part of succeeding.
6. What Do You Think You May Not Like About Working for Our Company?
This is a legitimate question. It may be designed to see whether you are realistic in thinking about a firm or a job. No work situation is paradise on earth. You could mention one or two concerns you have. For example, if the firm is very large, you can express concern that individual performance may not be recognized or that competition for promotions may cause tensions with your peers. If the firm is small, you may be concerned about the possibility that promotional opportunities might be limited.
Many other things might concern you: commuting time, relocation, long hours, hectic environment, and so on. It is not unreasonable to identify these as things you 'may not like.' However, if you cite something you may not like, add that you are willing to do it because it is outweighed by the things you would enjoy if you worked for the company.
Robert answered the 'may not like' question this way.
Robert: As I think about starting my career with this company, the thing I am concerned about is getting lost in the crowd, because this is a large firm. I work hard and I know that I will contribute to the success of the company. I know that I will have to spend time to learn the organization so that I don't feel lost and so that my contributions to the firm are noted by my managers.
7. How Did You Develop the Summary (or Objective) on Top of Your Resume?
Many people look at different sample resumes to help them with their own. You could indicate that you looked at a number of sample summaries (or objectives), gleaned some ideas you found useful, applied them to your own situation, and then wrote your text. It is acceptable to gain ideas from samples or from discussing ideas with a counselor. However, simply copying a sample (or taking advice from a counselor verbatim) would indicate that you had not been thoughtful in constructing your resume. Remember, it's a plus to learn from others, but a definite minus to be a mindless copier.
8. What Do You Think Makes You Stand Out from the Rest of the People I Have Interviewed Today?
Again, a legitimate question, but (as with all questions) be careful to understand its intent. Your basic approach should be to stress your Positive Characteristics and relate them to the needs of the firm. Do not even attempt to put down other people who are interviewing. You might reply, 'I know you are seeing some excellent candidates today. The reason you should hire me is that I have at least three outstanding attributes you need. For example, [you can now proceed as though you had been asked 'Why should we hire you?']
9. Think of Someone Outside of Your Family Who Is a Good "People Person." Why Do You Think of the Person That Way and How Are You
Similar and/or Different?
People skills are important on most jobs. If you have a person 'outside of your family' who exhibits those skills, fine. Mention that person and briefly describe his or her people skills. The key, however, is to show how you have demonstrated your people skills. If you have skills similar to those of the person you are describing, mention that and give examples. If the other person has skills you don't yet have but are seeking to acquire, identify those skills and how you are striving to acquire them. If you have a 'people' skill in addition to those the other person has, indicate that skill to the interviewer as well.
The Least-Loved Question
"Tell me about your weaknesses."
This least-loved of all interview questions comes up frequently. Use these strategies in your reply:
- Don't give the interviewer a list of weaknesses. You can't possibly be helping yourself by reciting your faults.
- Just try to avoid hurting yourself; this is a no-win question.
- Neutralize the question by using one of these types of answers:
-Trivializer: Identify something that is not closely related to the subject at hand, such as "I know I'm just not good in the natural sciences. I had to work hard just to get a B in astronomy."
- If the interviewer comes at you with another "weaknesses" question, stand your ground: "Are you concerned about any particular weaknesses that you would like me to discuss?" This takes the burden off your shoulders and will probably close out the "weaknesses" questions with no harm done. If your interviewer cites a possible weakness, try to show that you are actually strong in that area by citing a Positive Characteristic from your chart.
- If the interviewer cites as a weakness a characteristic you actually have:
Honesty: The Power of Truth
Bill came to see me before one of his interviews. He was concerned. At a previous interview, Bill's answers about his work experience seemed to fall flat. 'Maybe I could stretch a few points a little/ Bill suggested. "Who would get hurt? Besides, everybody lies, don't they?'
I could understand Bill's concern, but couldn't agree with his solution. Getting a job is tough, but that makes honesty even more important. I wanted Bill to find his own answer by thinking about some questions.
'Bill,' I asked him, 'why do you think your responses fell flat?' Bill told me his work experience was thin. 'My experience just isn't what they're looking for. I need to dummy things up a little.'
'Bill, I think you have it backward,' I responded. "The problem is that you weren't honest enough at your interview. Remember, the underlying question is the first peak: 'Why Should We Hire You?' The honest approach is to use your work experience, whatever it was, to demonstrate some of your Positive Characteristics. You are the subject of the question. Your work experience is really just providing examples and historical context.'
Bill thought for a moment and then reasoned, 'So, if I stretched the truth about my jobs, I'd be moving away from the point of the question, which is my own Positive Characteristics. By focusing my energy on identifying what I demonstrated, achieved, or learned on those jobs, I would be honest and also more successful.'
'Exactly,' I said. 'Altering the facts lets you escape from truly examining what is important about them. The consequence of telling the truth is that you will actually identify more of your Positive Characteristics.'
In this article, I have shown you five important facets of interviewing:
- The structure of a typical interview and how to promote your Positive Characteristics;
- How to use your response to the first question to set at least part of the interview agenda;
- How to understand and use the question-answer-question cycle;
- How to approach questions you are likely to face at your interview;
- How to use your resume as a source of interview practice questions, because your interviewer may use your resume as a source of real questions.
Now it's your turn to ask questions of the interviewer.
