11 Qs

Top Questions You Might Be Asked At a Job Interview and Why
By Canadajobs.com Staff

You will be asked some tough questions at your next job interview and how you answer will determine if you get the job. Knowing why an interviewer asks a particular question is the first step to determining how to answer it.

Why they ask: They want to know what you bring to the table and how you can answer this tricky question.

Find a way to showcase your strengths by giving examples of what you've accomplished in the past. If they ask for strengths, as in the plural, make sure you list at least 2 or 3. Focus on work examples that made a positive impact on your past company. Your weaknesses should also have a positive spin. State how you overcame a weakness by showing you were aware of it and illustrate that now, because you've made some conscious changes to improve your skill, it's actually a strength for you.

Why they ask: They want to know if you can work unsupervised and if you get along well with others.

Find a way to show that you can do both sucessfully. Give examples to illustrate how you shine working by yourself and within a team. Show how you're independent, but you're also great with people in a project or group situation. By showing the interviewer that you're adaptable, they know you'll be a flexible worker and will be able to be effective even if the work situation changes.

Find a creative way if telling them the truth. You don't want to lie or bend the truth. But you can be diplomatic and professional and still come out looking like a good candidate. Some good answers (if they are the truth!) are "I left to find a more challenging position where I could fully use my skills," "The company restructured and my position was redefined," or something of the like. Both those answers put a positive spin on leaving a job. Try to do the same for your reason.

Hopefully you have and you're able to give them a good definition of how you see this job. Don't quote directly from the job description because anyone can do that. Try to interpret what the job description is saying and try to figure out the skill sets tehy are looking for. Then, illustrate how yours match perfectly.

Why they ask: They want to know what your skill sets are and how you apply your knowledge. They also want to know how much training you'll need.

Tell them exactly what they are looking for. Use the skills required section of the job description to illustrate how your experience fits this job. If this job is very similar to your last one, show them, using examples that you have the training it takes to do the job right now.

You will likely be asked a lot more questions than this. Answering them requires you to find out why they are asking you. By figuring out why questions are asked, you can better prepare yourself and answer them in a way that projects you as the perfect candidate.

This article is exclusive to Canadajobs.com.
Copyright © 2005-2008, Farfan.
Reproduction of this article in whole or in part is prohibited.

A job interview is the opportunity for a company to determine if your skills and experience are a good fit for the position they have open. It's also a good chance for you to see if you are a good fit for the company. You'll likely have questions about the company and how they work, and you'll get some of your answers during the interview. You should be prepared to ask some questions of the interviewer yourself, usually at the end of the job interview. Try to think of questions that you are genuinely interested in hearing the answer to. Make sure questions are relevant and about the company or position.

If you can't think of any questions you'd like to ask, here are a few and why you should ask them.

You want to work for a company that has a similar mindset as you. You also want to know how the employees are treated. This open-ended question is a great way to get a feel for the company through the interviewer. If you don't get a very positive vibe, consider it a sign.

This is a great question that helps define the position for you. You'll get an idea of how much time is expected to be spent on different tasks and what tasks you should be familiar with. The answer to this question will also help you decide if you really want this job.

This will give you a good idea of what your role is in the company and what your opportunities for growth are while performing this job. If you are looking for a job that will allow you to move up and take on more responsibility, you need to know that. You also need to know if the position looks like it will never evolve to anything more than it is.

This is a great question to ask towards the end of the interview. It gives you a time frame on which to base your follow-up calls and an idea on when to move on. It's important to know when they'll be hiring because you likely have other job prospects you are pursing and you need to be able to evaluate them accordingly.

Asking the right questions at a job interview is a chance for you to get a feel for the company and the position. By asking questions, you appear interested in the job and you tell the interviewer you have put time and effort into determining if you are a good fit for this job.

This article is exclusive to Canadajobs.com.
Copyright © 2005-2008, Farfan.
Reproduction of this article in whole or in part is prohibited.

From http://www.tiptopjob.com/tiptop/user/displaycontent/contentid/272/sectionid/15

Interview Questions You May Be Asked

Before attending an interview you should think about the best responses to some typical interview questions. Your answers may depend on the job or company in question, so you should go through your responses just before each interview. Here are just a few typical questions for you to practice responding to them in the best possible way -

Why do you want this job?

Think carefully about this question. Stress the positive aspects, which have attracted you to apply for this position and do not mention the negative aspects of your current job or the job in question.

What qualities do you think will be required for this job?

Their advertisement for the job may help you a little bit, but you should also think of the other qualities that may be required. These may include leadership ability, communication skills, interpersonal skills, problem solving, analytical skills, etc.

What can you contribute?

Tell them about your achievements in your previous position(s), which are relevant to the new position you are applying for. This is your chance to shine.

Tell me about yourself

Your CV introduction is a helpful start. Focus on your positive points and keep this to a brief couple of minutes. You should give a brief outline of where you are from and where you want to be going.

Why do you want to work for this company?

Emphasise the positive reasons why you want to join their company, but avoid aspects such as more money or shorter hours.

What do you know about this company?

This is your chance to impress the interviewer with your knowledge of their company. Give them a run down of their products/services, sales figures, news, company figures, customers, etc.

What can we (the new company) offer that your previous company cannot offer?

Again do not mention money. Stress opportunities for personal growth, new challenges, etc.

Why should we employ you?

The answer to this question will be based on your previous experience and achievements, which relate to the company. You could add that you think there is a good fit between you and the job, and do ask the interviewer for their opinion.

How ambitious are you? Would you compete for my job?

Depending on the position you are applying for you may want to sound fairly ambitious, but do not look too arrogant and as if you are after the interviewer's position.

What do you like and dislike about the job we are discussing?

Likes: stress things such as a new challenge or the opportunity to bring fresh experience to the company. Dislikes: Imply there is nothing to dislike about the job, which is why you are so interested. Try to pick at least three likes and just one minor dislike.

Why did you choose a career in ...?

If you have changed careers you should have a logical argument as to why you did so. Be positive about your reasons.

Why are you changing careers?

Only if you are making a radical change in your career will this question be asked. Always stress the positive aspects of the change rather than the negative aspects of your previous career, as you do not want to come across as someone who is moving just because you hate your old career. Say why you think you will be good in the new career - using your experience and achievements, stress the transferable skills you have, such as leadership ability, etc.

What do you think of the last company you worked for?

You should stress the positive aspects of your last company saying that they were a good company to work for. Tell them about the training you received or the work related experience you gained.

Why did you join your previous company? Why are you leaving now?

Always be positive about your reasons for joining and leaving a company. Be very careful that you do not say anything negative about your present employer. If you do, the new company will wonder what you will say about them when you leave. You might want to stress that you are looking for a new challenge and that you feel that the company who is interviewing you fits the bill!

Do you prefer to work in a small, medium or large company?

If the company interviewing you is a small to medium sized company say that you enjoy a close atmosphere with a good team spirit. At a large company, say that you enjoy the stability of working for a large and established company. Remember where you are!

What are you looking for in a new job?

Make sure your answer fits in with the company who is interviewing you. A suitable reply would be that you are looking for a new job where you can apply your existing skills and learn new ones.

Are you considering any other positions at the moment?

If you are, say so, but do not give too many details away. If you do not have any other job offers at the moment just say that you have a few offers.

What did you do on a day to day basis?

Stress the positive things you did, including your achievements. Even if some or much of it was paperwork, you can still show your interest in the way it was tackled.

Did you increase sales or profits in your last job?

This question is only relevant for senior managers or sales people. If you have increased sales and/or profit then do not be afraid to emphasise this point. If you have not increased sales say why not, e.g. general downturn in the market, etc. It might then be a good idea to mention an achievement in a previous job if your performance was better there.

What interests do you have outside work?

Your hobbies and interests can tell an employer a lot about you. Think about which interests will paint the right picture of you given the position you are discussing and include whether you are sociable or solitary, and whether you can take on 'leadership' roles.

Are you prepared to relocate?

If you are, say so. If you do not want to move then you do not have to accept the job - try and come across as someone who is positive.

Are you willing to travel?

Again if you are, say so. You want to sound positive, so find out how much travelling is involved before you turn down the job.

What did you earn in your last job?

You have to be very careful when answering this question because once an interviewer knows your current salary they will try and fix your salary based on this figure. This may be satisfactory if you only want a modest rise in salary and your current salary is in line with their salary range, but, what if your current salary is substantially lower than the rate for the job, or if you want a salary rise? In these cases you would be best advised to say that you do not really want to prejudice yourself by being too high or too low. Ask if you can discuss this later after the responsibilities for the job have been discussed; you may also want to ask them what the range for the job is (if you do not already know).

What level of salary are you looking for now?

Again be very careful when you answer this question - you do not want to appear to be greedy. If you are applying for a specific vacancy you could ask them what the salary range is. Once they have answered you could say I think my experience would place me at the top end of your range. If they ask you this question fairly early on in the interview you could delay answering by saying It is hard to discuss salary without first knowing a little bit more about the job and the responsibilities.

What will your referees say about you?

Say that you expect excellent references.

Fantasy questions

These may be very difficult to answer. Such questions might include: If you could invent something, what would it be? You should give the answer, which in your opinion will give you the best chance of getting the job.