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Know What Questions are Coming at the Interview
Twelve questions you should be prepared to answer
no matter what!
1. Tell me a little bit about yourself. Comment: Keep your answer
brief and don’t hesitate to ask the interviewer to narrow the scope of
the question.
2. What did you do in your last job? Comment: Focus on key
responsibilities. Tailor the answer to what you perceive to be the main
requirements of the job you are seeking.
3. What do you think you can offer or company? Comment: Use the
question as an opportunity to elaborate on what you know about the
company based on the homework you have done prior to the interview.
4. What do you want to be doing in five years? Comment: You don’t
have to be specific when you answer this but don’t be afraid to aim
high.
5. Why did you leave your last job? Comment: Be honest. If you
were fired, say so, but be prepared to offer a reasonable explanation.
6. From what you have seen, what do you think of our company?
Comment: A not-too-smart question frequently asked by inexperienced
interviewers. Show enthusiasm. Never criticize.
7. What were your best subjects in school? Comment: A frequently
asked question during entry-level job interviews. Be honest, but keep in
mind that the interviewer might be trying to connect the subjects you
were good at with the job requirements.
8. What tasks do you find the most boring? Comment: A good
question that trips up a lot of people. What an interviewer might be
looking for with this question are some insights into your personality.
It’s OK to be a general in your response.
9. What do you consider your greatest strengths? Comment: Is long
as you don’t go overboard, don’t hesitate to toot your own horn.
Strengthen your claims by giving illustrations of how a particular
strength translated into a specific accomplishment at your last job.
10. What do you consider your biggest weakness? Comment: A no-win
question. Nobody expects you to admit worst faults. Be prepared to throw
in a few harmless weaknesses – “I get a little tunneled sometimes” –
along with what you were doing to strengthen those weaknesses.
11. What are your salary expectations? Comment: Try to finesse
this question, couching it in terms of the job and the opportunity. If
pressed, offer a range and don’t be afraid to err on the high side.
Stress your desire to earn top pay for the position, but only in return
for top performance.
12. What are the three most recent books you have read? Comment:
If you can’t offer a good answer to this question, it’s your own fault.
Be better prepared the next time. Try to include in your answer at least
one book that is related to either the job you’re interviewing for or
for self -improvement in general.
13. What do you like to do in your spare time? Comment: Whatever
you say, show enthusiasm.
Source: 50 Ways to get Hired by Max Messer
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