top ten questions in the job interview

TOP TEN QUESTIONS IN THE JOB INTERVIEW

            Interview will be taken in several phases. Most common phases are greeting, small talk, general questions, specific questions, and questions and answers, next step decision to be taken and finishing.

            Greeting is simple and short. An interviewer may say” Good Morning, Mr. William, How do you do, I am pleased to meet you this morning” In this situation an interviewee must show warm and professional in shaking hand and answering the greeting.  Answer the greeting with the steady tone.

            Making a small talk is one thing that is important. An interviewer may ask about the traffic. Answer positively how traffic is the street; it is not a major problem. An interviewee should show the how he can handle the problem. An interview also can give comment about the photo, or the room setting in the interviewer office” That’s nice room setting” never tell a lie about the comment. Don’t say this if the room is a mess.

            First, the interviewer will ask about general questions. The questions include personal questions. The interviewer will ask about your education, age, marital status, and hobbies. Be careful if the question is tact you should answer tactfully. For example if the interviewer ask “how do you spend your holiday with your children and your wife?” if you are single, don’t answer “ I am sorry , I am single, I am not married” instead of saying this you can say “ It will be fun to have holiday with children and wife, I am thinking about getting married in the next few years.”  This answer shows your optimistic.

            Next, it is going to the specific questions. The interviewer will ask your experience, special skills, how you overcome situation, weakness and strength and some other questions related to the job offered. These are some questions that most interviewers ask.

1. Do you think you have right skill in this job field? Although I have only few years experience in advertising industries I try to improve my self by reading and attending seminars about advertising. Some training in my previous company helps me to ensure my self to take a new responsibility in your company. I am keen to learn and adapt with the co-workers and work responsibilities in the new work environment.
2. What kinds of extracurricular activities did you join in college? I was a member of the College bulletin. I obtained much knowledge experience about writing report, meeting deadline, working with various situation and people. I should make report, and take interview with some campus staffs, lecturers, and sometimes important person outside the campus when I had to write current issues. This answer shows how you got along with a lot of people. It gives positive image for the interviewer that you are not a type of paper book student. You participate actively in non academic activities even you are just an ordinary member of an organization or you are not in a leadership position.
3. Why didn’t you join extracurricular activities in the college? To the interviewer it is a tactful question if you never joined any campus activities. How you handle this? You should answer tactfully. The principle of answering question is to turn the negative into positive and smart representation but not to told a lie because in can be fatal. This type of answer is a positive one.  I was very eager to join some college extra activities however I took a part time job in a hotel which has changing work shift in a month. I sometime should get to work at night and in the early morning. Unfortunately, I could not manage the time well so that I could not join any extra activities in college.  
4. What you think to develop about yourself?  There are two things I want to improve, they are managerial and computer proficiency in the near future. I am going to take a course to improve those skills.
5. What reasons should we hire you? I understand you need the best person in this position as a production manager. I will carry to this task my education background in the production management, few years experience in my previous company how my teamwork and I  should perform such effective production in minimum budget however we was able to reach maximum objective. I have constant performance of work that your company needs. I consider this is something valuable to your organization.
6. Why do you want to work for this company? I consider that your organization is one of the best companies in this field. I have worked for your competitor for few years. I have an opportunity to evaluate your company because I actually admire this company. I just think about how I join your company and apply all my skills as worthy addition which can profit to your company. 
7. Why do you often change job? I know I did not settle job in the first few jobs. I worked in small companies. I discovered and achieved better skills and talent each time but I did not get a perfect place to move forward. I this job market I dropped my interest to this firm which is large enough to grow
8. How well do you manage your stress in under pressure work deadline? I try not to do all tasks on the deadline but I will organize the tasks, make priority, accomplish quickly to the prior work. The most exciting thing is when I can get the tasks done at the time required without leaving qualified standard of procedure.
9. How do work with others? I like friendship environment in professional manner. The present of co-workers will help me to achieve the work goal better and quicker. I had very good relationship with my previous supervisor who gave me comment on my work done and sometimes I gave a new idea to the difficult problems. I build professional communication to my subordinates referring to my supervisory and managerial training I possessed. 
10. Do you like working alone or with a team? Basically, I enjoy working with others. I need others help in many work situation but I do my best alone on special assignment which needs individual scheme and performance. The answers should emphasize that you are good in both team player or alone.

                              

Bibliography

Nail the Job Interview, Caryl Rae Kranrich, Phd, Ronald L Kranrich,Phd, Impact Publication, Manassas park, Virginia.

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5 questions you may ask in the interview

5 QUESTIONS YOU ARE ALLOWED TO ASK IN THE INTERVIEW

1. Questions about the company.

  These are typical questions you may ask

-          Why does the company open this position? What is the essential meaning of the position to the company?

-          Would you tell me what kinds of environment I would to work in?

-          What kind of people I would work with?

-          What kind of assignment would I handle?

2. Questions about the employment

-          What progress would you like to achieve in the near time?

-          Could you tell me about the organization scheme?

-          Does the company have pre-placement training?

-          What kind opportunities for progression?

3. Questions about salary

       Asking about salary is one thing you are suggested to question but you are allowed to ask about the salary and fringe benefit after you are offered a job. Before being offered you must put the questions off. After you are offered the job you should ask the salary. Remember try to ask not only the particular main salary but also the sorts of benefit because it will be better opportunity to have flexible negotiation.

4. Closing questions

-          If by the (tenth of July)  I haven’t received any call from you, may I call you for conformation?

-          You can ask the interviewer whether he need other supporting documents in your application form.

5. Questions about placement

       The company may ask you to travel or to work out of town. After you offered a job you need to discuss about the cost of moving to another town. Is the cost paid by the company or you should pay by yourself. You can estimate the cost of living and moving to a new town. Many companies are not responsible for the cost recently because of economic crisis. In this case you can negotiate with your employer before you accept the position.

Bibliography

Nail the Job Interview, Caryl Rae Kranrich, Phd, Ronald L Kranrich,Phd, Impact Publication, Manassas park, Virginia.

                           

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

1. Make a note of your interview

                  When your mind is able to remember all interview sessions and questions, write down on your note. All the information will be useful in the future interview because you may encounter more than one interview. Summarize the entire interview and prepare to have better interview next time.

2. Make a call for information

                  Before you leave the interview ask when the decision date is. You must make follow- up to get the assured information. Sometime an employer hasn’t made any decision on the date that he has told. If you get the position, you are very lucky but if you are not the one he chooses you can jump to another effort.  You will not spend your time waiting.

3. Be ready for the next chance

                  No one wants a bad news. In fact if it happens to you, you fail in an interview it does not mean you fail in your life. There are thousand companies looking for new employees. Be patient, do something better. Sell your skills , write down your resume and drop in a better company. Create your online resume in jobdb.com,jobstreet.com, and other online services who can help you easier, cheaper and faster to drop your CV and application letter.

FACING THE INTERVIEW

1. Be on time

                  It is important to know the location of the office you are going to. You can go to the office the day before in order that you can estimate the traffic. You can anticipate and estimate how long you will arrive in the office; you can make up your appearance before you enter the reception desk. You can come 15 or 10 minutes earlier.

2. Be polite to everyone you meet in the office.

                  You will meet some people in the reception area. You will talk to the receptionist, secretary or office boy. All are working there. Don’t give a bad impression at the first time you meet them. Put a smile on your face.

3. do a small talk to the people in the waiting area.

            It is not forbidden to ask the receptionist, “ how long have you been working here? When did you join this company? How many people are working here?. It is not polite to ask about the fringe benefit, salary, annual leave and other company’s compensations to the employees.

4. be good communicator during the first minutes.

                              Stand up, shake hand firmly, keep eye contact, listen carefully , greet the interviewer “ and introduce your self” good morning, I am James, It ‘s glad to meet you. Do not show your nervousness, have a small talk carefully by saying positive things you can handle about the traffic, or weather but do not overact. The interviewer may not talk topics related to the job. You must pass this natural judgment whether the interviewer likes or dislikes your impression.  

5. don’t be in a hurry to sit before you are invited

                  Sitting position and setting sometimes important in the interview. In a proper position you may can keep eye contact and listen clearly what the interviewer is saying. Please sit after you are invited to sit. The interviewer may ask you to sit in a sofa not in a chair in for of his desk so wait to be invited.  If you sit on a desk, do not put your hands, elbows or fingers on the desk. Look enthusiastic and listen carefully. Sit straight comfortably forward, do not lean on your back. If you sit in a sofa, do not cross your legs, because it shows informality. Keep your feet on the floor.

6. You do not have to open the conversation during the first minutes.

                  After the interviewer initiates a conversation listen carefully, he may not talk about the job but he may talk about weather, trip to the office, answer with just “yes” or “no” and observe carefully his conversational aim. Take your chance to talk about his office, his reception desk or picture and photos in the office show positive comments. 

7. Give full answers in complete sentences.

                  When the interviewer has entered to the job related questions answer the questions in a full sentence. Do not say “ yes” or “no”. if you are asked “ Do you enjoy working with people” answer “ Sure , I enjoy meeting a lot of people”

8. match what you and employers’ desires

                  An interviewer is looking for the right person in the right place. The question is that are you the right person? It is similar to you in your mind that you look for a right job in the right company. The question is that is the company right for you? How do you match similar needs, you need to emphasize what can you give to the company and how benefit you are if the company hires you. You should be able to share information with the interviewer. If you focus on what your education, skills and certificates you can’t get the interviewer’s impression. Take it easy and focus what you can give to the company.   

9. Be positive.

                  When an interviewer asks about your previous employer never put answers in negative impression on your previous boss. If you talk negative about your previous boss, the interviewer will conclude you are a negative person, you will not do different ways if you are hired. It is also questionable how good you are to get along with your previous employers and your co-workers. Stay in positive answer when you talk about your previous company.  

10. Be sure to ask questions.

                  Prepared few questions, remember to avoid asking questions about salary and benefits. These questions are too early you can put off the questions once you get job offer and start negotiating your job descriptions, terms and responsibility. You can ask” what responsibility will I have?”, “Would you tell me about the co-workers I will work with? “Ask questions that are typical with these.

Bibliography

Nail the Job Interview, Caryl Rae Kranrich, Phd, Ronald L Kranrich,Phd, Impact Publication, Manassas park, Virginia.2003

LOOK AT THE JOB ADS

      When there is a vacancy, a company manages to recruit a new employee. The management may put the information on many different media. Job ads usually stick clear profiles of the candidate. The profiles include sex, age, education, hobbies, experience and interest. In response to your employment listing in the (Name of Newspaper), I am writing today to submit my resume in application for the position of (Name of Position).

     What should a job seeker do at the first time he sees a job ads. First, asses himself, is his education suitable with the job requirement? How old is he?, what are his hobby and interest? What other skills or qualification does he have? Does he have experience? All the requirements may not match 100 % but an applicant must be a suitable person in the job field and his education, experience and certain qualification. A job ads says “ we need an engineering , experience min 5 years.”  Never try to apply for this position if you major in economic but if you have education in engineering even though you only have 3 years experience in the same field, it is better for you to apply for the post.

     Second, gather information about the company’s profiles he is going to apply for. Get the information about products, management, and philosophy. It will help an applicant in the interview session.

     In the end, write and send the application letter and CV before the closing date of the recruitment.

Here is a sample of cover letter

“In response to your employment listing in the (Name of Newspaper), I am writing today to submit my resume in application for the position of (Name of Position).

As my resume demonstrates, my previous work experiences have enabled me to gain a deep and diverse understanding of the mindset and skills needed to succeed as a (Name of Position). These experiences, combined with my ability to adapt to a wide variety of circumstances and to manage many responsibilities while nurturing necessary lines of communication with others, make me a very suitable candidate for your open position.

If this possibility interests you, I would welcome the opportunity to discuss the matter further. Please feel free to contact me at any time; I am available for a phone conversation or office visit most days during the week. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.” ( taken from Write Express,4001 Business, sales and personal  letters)

                                                                                

INTERVIEW PREPARATION

An interviewee should prepare for all aspects how he presents academic and non academic aspects.

1.    Recognize your power

                  Self assessment is important. It can evaluate someone skills, accomplishments, and capabilities. It is basic information to communicate to the potential employer. This assessment will be important in making a resume and preparing interview.

2.    Create communication that employer-centered rather than self-centered.

                  Talking your special needs salary and jobs satisfaction is self centered topic. Keep focusing on what you can do rather than what the employers can do for you. Make sure to answer the employer question with an employer centered point of view. It doesn’t mean that you have no idea. An employer needs a person who can work best for him.

3.    hold your undertakings with specific examples illustrating what you did.

                  It is important to tell the interviewer something about business or situation where you dial up with or business activities you are successful. Don’t tell a lie because the interviewer can identify if you tell a lie. If you do this, there will be no more interviews

4.    Gather information about the organization.

                     Knowing the company you are applying to is much needed. Find out as much as possible information about what they do, their reputation, and philosophy. This information will help you to answer questions and give better responses. You can search on the internet about the company you are going to apply.

5.    Talk in the employer’s language.

                     The employer is happy in having the work done in timely manner, at a quality level. The interviewer is not interested in your career and personal goals in other places. He will be fun to have his work done and you can achieve high career in his company. It means that he needs your best performance in his company.

6.    Anticipate and prepare for questions.

                     You can imagine what questions may be asked in the interview. You can draw from general questions to the specific ones. For all general questions an interviewee must be well organized in answering them. For the specific ones an interviewee must look for references what related-questions to the job offered may be asked. Searching information of interview samples from books or internet is more likely to be done before encountering an interview session.  Would you please answer in an honest, but in a positive manner. Collect as much as information, and strategies, for responding questions.

7.    Practice answering the questions.

                     It is a good method to practice the form of your answers. You can practice either alone or with your friend. You can listen to your voice. It is good to listen or it shows lack of confidence. Practice from the early interview session. You can start from greeting to interviewer to answering specific questions. If you have felt relaxed it indicates that you are at least ready for the interview.

8.    communicate verbally and nonverbally.

                     First, speak in complete sentence. Good verbal communication indicates that you are well educated. It is very valued by many employers. Would please say “ going to” instead of “ gona to”. Say “yes” instead of “ yea”. Pay attention to your grammar.

                     Second, shake hands firmly, use eye contact but not stare, listen positively, sit politely in a professional manner not crossing your legs, enter, and leave the room are nonverbal communications that talk about your personality rather than your words. Practice communicates verbally and nonverbally.

9.    Dress for your career.

                     Your appearance gives an impression. You may only meet the chance once so please dress properly because dressing is a part of nonverbal communication. The employer will judge what kind of person you are from your appearance.

helloworld: Ten Mistakes In the Job Interview

helloworld: Ten Mistakes In the Job Interview: "TENT MISTAKES IN THE JOB INTERVIEW These are some mistakes made by an interviewee. He sometimes…..."

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Ten Mistakes In the Job Interview

 

TENT MISTAKES IN THE JOB INTERVIEW

 These are some mistakes made by an interviewee. He sometimes……

1. gives a bad impression in the waiting area.

    An interviewee acts as a superior, and treats a secretary and a receptionist badly as if she is unimportant person because he is going to apply for a manager or a higher position than the secretary or the receptionist. He shows a superiority impression in sitting in the waiting area. An interviewee must consider that the secretary or the receptionist will give his behavioral acts to her boss.

2. Arrives late.

    No company will hire an employee who comes late to work. The first impression has destroyed all talent and academic achievement possessed by an interviewee when coming late to interview. It is suggested that an interviewee come 15 minutes earlier.

3. Appears in negative images.

    An interview may choose a poor clothing and bad color selecting. She may wear too short skirt for a woman. An interviewee may ask a friend to give opinion about what should he wear to deal with a job interview.

4. expresses  bad and negative attitudes.

    An interviewee may tend to have extreme attitudes or too critical. He shows intolerance and strong prejudice toward others. These attitudes signs that he may not fit to the company regardless how talented he is.

5. does not focus to the interviewer questions.

    An interview answers unrelated topic, and incomplete thought. He jumps from one to other ideas.

6. gives short and incomplete answers.

    He often answers yes, no, or may be, when he is needed to answer deeply. It shows he has lack of enthusiasm, interest or knowledge. 

7. looks ill and in bad health condition.

    An interview seems to have severe health problem, pale , cough and sneeze. He sometimes talks about up coming medical treatment within next weeks. A company needs a fit person, who can handle its task therefore it does not want to care sick person in the first week or month of work. 

8. Starts to talk a personal information that would be inappropriate.

    An interview talks about religion, politic, family, mental health, and sexual orientation. Some interviewers do not feel comfortable when at the first meeting an interviewee asks those topics.

9. shows greedy for the job.

    An interview is over enthusiastic and too suspicious. Before learning about the company he has given comments “ I really like it here”, “I like the company”, “ the company is very popular” , “ How much insurance will you give? ‘

10. Talks negatively of previous boss.

    An interview is sometimes trapped when he asked “why did he leave his previous job”? He speaks negatively about the previous company and co-workers and management. It indicates that he is not good worker who can socialize with many people. In this question he must avoid talking about negative things in the previous company but he had better talk about positive things he can achieve by joining a larger company.

Bibliography

Nail the Job Interview, Caryl Rae Kranrich, Phd, Ronald L Kranrich,Phd, Impact Publication, Manassas park, Virginia.

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INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

QUESTION: Why do you want to leave your job?

ANSWER : Actually I would not like to leave my current job. After working two years, I have realized that I have free time in the afternoon. I decide it is time for me to find large and progressive organization where I can use my experience and skill in several different organizations. I am ready to take more responsibilities. This change will be a positive step in my professional growth.

QUESTION : What are some of your weaknesses?

ANSWER : I have a dream to have an undergraduate degree or continue my study but until now I don’t have it, However’ I believe my education has prepared me well for this job. My experience taught me how to work with people, organize, and solve problems.

                                                                                          

QUESTION :Do you rent or own a home?,

ANSWER :  I’ve been renting a house during the past few years. That worked well for the first years. But I’ve now outgrown it. And I know I’m losing money by not building equity in a home. I plan to either purchase or building home within the years later.

QUESTION:  Why did you attend university of technology  Yogyakarta?

ANSWER : I decided on university of technology  Yogyakarta   The college has an excellent reputation for Its English Dept  It also gave me an opportunity to participate in excellent English Speaking Club community which helped me to practice my English speaking skill with other students.

QUESTION : Why did you major in English ?

ANSWER :I chose English because I enjoyed learning a foreign language and studying the culture. While some people may think this is not a useful major, I believe it has prepared me well for the type of work I want to do. English helped me develop my knowledge, in using computer and teaching and other subjects. I can quickly get a lot of information and most issues or problem and reformulate them into agenda for my works.

QUESTIONS : What are your qualifications?

I have over 6 years of progressively responsible experience with Education industry. Each year I have exceeded my performance goal. The latest I tried to train some students to play in an English Drama and I was successful. Training a drama was difficult but I was able to encounter the problems. My headmaster gave me good appreciation of my work because I was the first teacher who was successful in training Drama in our school.

QUESTIONS : What do you like most about your present/most recent job?

I really enjoy working with the people there. I can freely post a new idea and they support my idea in developing and implementing lesson plans. I’m looking forward to working in a similar environment that encourages team efforts, and initiative.

QUESTIONS : What do you like least about your present/most recent job?

I didn’t like always having to crisis manage and work overtime to meet deadlines. I like to see my work get done on time and with the least amount of stress. During the first year I should make lesson plans which are very different from my previous office. It made me stressed. But during the second year I developed a new planning and scheduling system that enabled my woks to meet all of the deadlines with minimal stress. www.semogaberuntung.wordpress.com