SolveYourProblem eLearning Series: Job Interviews
Help Me Nail My Job Interview!
( 11 pages )

Job Interview Tips

With all of the information that was given in this online guide, you would think that you have learned everything there is to know about acing an interview. However, there are still a few extra tips that you should know, and a few more helpful hints.

1. Market your skills and related experience in the field you are applying for. Be sure to do it in a way that is positive, not cocky.
     
2. Researching the company before your interview is a good way to know where you will fit into it. It lets the employer know that you really want to be a part of the company too.
     
3. Bring your list of questions with you in a folder (with the company's name on it) so that you don’t forget them. You should also keep 3 extra resumes in there too.
     
4. You want to describe your weaknesses as strengths.
     
5. Since many interviewers ask you what your biggest fault might be, you should pick a fault that is actually a good thing.
     
6. Let your interviewer bring up the topic of salary first.
     
7. Don’t volunteer your personal opinions to your interviewer about any subjects unless you are asked.
     
8. Try to establish a good rapport with your interviewer. Be casual but professional, and most importantly BE YOURSELF!

Common Interview Questions

Every interview is comprised of the interviewer asking you a great deal of questions. Many of them are standard questions that every interviewer asks. I’ve listed the most common questions that you will encounter during an interview to help you get a handle on them before you go to one.

By reading these common questions that interviewers ask, you will have a leg up on the competition. You will also have time to prepare your answers so that you don’t get stumped. So here is your key to acing a job interview.

1. Tell me something about yourself. (Remember, say something positive)
     
2. How do you handle stressful situations?
     
3. How do you deal with criticism and stress?
     
4. What is your definition of success?
     
5. Why do you think you will fit in with this company? (This is where your research comes in handy)
      
6. Have you ever been fired, and why?
     
7. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
     
8. Do you prefer to work on your own or as a team?
     
9. Why are you interested in working for this company?
      
10. How do you handle a difference of opinion with your colleagues or superiors?
      
11. Why should I hire you?

Common Questions When Applying
For Your First Job After College Graduation

1. Tell me what your most rewarding college experience was.
     
2. What extra curricular activities did you participate in?
   
3. What have you learned in college that applies directly to this job?
     
4. How have you prepared yourself for the transition from college to the workplace?
     
5. Are you going to graduate school? If so, do you plan to continue working as well?
     
6. How do you plan to manage graduate school and working?
     
7. Did you get any hands on experience in college?
     
8. How do you feel that college has prepared you for this job?
    
9. Have you ever done an internship that helped to prepare you for this type of work?
     
10. What do you think is the best asset that you could bring to this company?

Questions That You Should Ask Your Interviewer

Just like you will be fielding questions from your interviewer, it is best to ask a few of your own. It shows that you are genuinely interested in working there, and that you have some concerns of your own. It also shows that you feel relatively certain that this is the place for you.

Asking the right questions of your prospective employer will show him/her that you are serious in your efforts to work for their company, and that you are an organized individual. You should steer clear of asking any personal questions or any questions that are not directly job related.

If you wish, you may jot down some of the answers you are given for reference later on. Keep your questions simple and polite. Make sure that you are asking direct questions about the job and/or work environment.

Here are some questions that you should ask your prospective employer:

1. Why is this position available right now?
     
2. How many times has this position been filled in the past 5 years?
     
3. What should the new person do that is different from the last person that had this position?
     
4. What would you most like to see done in the next 6 months?
     
5. What are the most difficult problems that this job entails?
     
6. How much freedom do I have in the decision making process?
     
7. What are my options for advancement?
     
8. How has this company succeeded in the past?
     
9. What changes do you envision in near future for this company?
     
10. What do you think constitutes success at this job?

Questions Employers Cannot Ask

Just like there are many questions that an interviewer can ask, there are many that he cannot ask. Some questions are illegal to ask. Many people don’t realize that there are off limit questions for employers. That is why I felt that it was important to include them.

When or if you do encounter some of these questions, there are ways that you can choose to respond to them. Some people will probably answer them. If you don't wish to answer them, you can simply ask how those questions pertain to the job you’re applying for. Here is a list of the questions that are illegal for an interviewer to ask.

1. Questions about your age are not allowed during an interview because it should not be a factor upon hiring you.
     
2. Questions about your marital status are inappropriate and can easily be mistaken for sexual harassment. This question also applies to whether or not you have children, your child care plans etc. This type of question also includes any other aspect of your personal life that should not affect your chances of being hired.
     
3. Questions about your personal health are also off limits.
     
4. Questions about your ethnicity should not be asked by an interviewer or answered by the person being given the interview.
     
5. Your sexual preference cannot be a factor in your chances of being hired either. This type of question should not be asked.
     
6. Whether or not you have disabilities is a question that should not be asked either.
     
7. Your arrest record is information that doesn’t have to be answered. All an interviewer can ask you is if you have ever been convicted of a crime, they cannot ask you what for or how many times.
     
8. Basically, personal information cannot be asked by an interviewer. It is illegal, and you do not have to respond.
   

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