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success of your interview will depend in great part on your
ability to effectively answer the interviewer's questions. You
can prepare for the kinds of questions you might be asked by
doing your research on the organization and knowing what the
position involves. Since no interview is so completely structured
that you can anticipate every question you might be asked, it
is important to treat every question as an important one, be
honest, and be yourself. Here are some of the most commonly
asked questions (and often the toughest) and some approaches
to answering them.
1.
"TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF"
This
is commonly used as an icebreaker, an opportunity to see your
reactions, body language, etc., and a chance to find out about
your job skills. In your answer: give a brief introduction,
tell your key accomplishments, key strengths related to these
accomplishments, why these are important to the employer,
and how you see yourself fitting into the position/organization
you're applying for.
2.
"WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WEAKNESS?"
Don't
be negative, however, don't try to give a fluff answer or
pretend that you're perfect. Always tell how you are working
on your weakness or what you have learned from it. You want
to give the picture that you know yourself well.
For example: "Sometimes I ask too many questions about
what I am told to do to make sure that I will do it right.
As I become more confident in my job I'm learning to work
without quite so much supervision."
3.
"WHAT IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION YOU MADE DURING
YOUR INTERNSHIP (or "x" experience)/ WHAT DO YOU
CONSIDER TO BE YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT?"
Try
to think of accomplishments which might be most related to
the position you are applying for, something that will be
an asset to the organization and will demonstrate initiative
or resilience. If possible tell about a specific accomplishment
that added value to the organization, be sure to tell about
outcomes.
4.
"WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF 5 YEARS FROM NOW/WHAT ARE
YOUR FUTURE GOALS?"
The
interviewer may be trying to ascertain whether your goals
fit with the organization, what expectations you have of the
organization, and if you are goal directed and plan ahead.
If you desire advancement and have leadership aspirations
try not to come across as too pushy. For example: "I
understand that my growth within this organization will depend
on my job performance and the growth of the organization.
I have demonstrated leadership characteristics in my past
jobs and activities and hope to have continually greater management
responsibilities in the future."
5.
"WHY ARE YOU INTERESTED IN OUR ORGANIZATION/THIS POSITION?"
The
employer wants to see what you know about the organization
and that you're genuinely interested in the organization and
position. This is where all your hard work pays off. Show
that you have researched the organization and thought about
how it fits with your goals, skills, etc. Example: "I
have been reading about your new training program and am really
excited about...." or "After talking with other
people who work for _____ I feel that this is a good company
for me because..."
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