you a team player?
43.What are the things that motivate you?
45.What have you done that shows initiative?
46.What personal qualities are important for success in this field?
48.Are you willing to take calculated risks?
49.Can you establish effective methods and procedures?
51.We need someone who is resourceful.
52.What has been your biggest challenge?
53.Describe a team project where you are proud of the team’s result as well as of your personal contribution.
54.Describe a difficult decision you’ve made and the process you went through to reach that decision.
55.Give me three qualities that are really helping you get ahead and three qualities that you must work on if you are going to achieve your career goals.
59.Why do you want to get into this field?
61.How long will it take before you make a positive contribution to our organization?
62.What do you like most about this position?
63.Tell me about your duties at your present job.
64.What is the most important aspect of your job?
67.What is the most difficult situation you ever faced?
69.What jobs have you enjoyed most? Why?
70.What duties have you enjoyed most?
74.Why would you like to work for us?
80.What kind of recommendations will you get from previous employers?
84.How has your supervisor helped you grow?
85.What did your supervisor rate you highest on during your last review?
89.Can you supervise people?
93.How would your subordinates describe you as a supervisor?
95.How have you improved as a supervisor over the years?
Once you’ve completed all four steps, you’ll be ready to ace your interviews. Take the time to put all of these pieces together. Yes, it will take time—5-15 hours is typical—but the quality of your answers will bring about better results than you’ve ever experienced.
Skills/Accomplishments Table
Chapter 9
SELL YOURSELF
Knowing how to sell yourself is the key to successful interviewing. Understanding the psychology of interviewing and knowing what is motivating your interviewer will play a major role in selling yourself more effectively. Building credibility and projecting a winning personality are the first steps.
The Ultimate Question
The ultimate question in any interview is “Why should I hire you?” No matter what questions are asked (“What are your strengths?” “Do you work well as part of a team?” or “Can you supervise people well?”), they are all ultimately asking “Why should I hire you?” Every time you say something, it is to give the interviewer more reasons to hire you, adding so much weight to your side of the scale that there is no question who should get the job.
Ten Key Things Employers Look For
Tom Jackson points out in Interview Express that every employer wants to know ten basic things about you: 1. What results will you achieve? 2. How soon will you become productive? 3. How much supervision will you need? 4. Do you generate more value than cost? 5. Can you become a high performer? 6. Will you fit into the culture? 7. Will you be fun to work with? 8. Are you responsible? 9. Can you manage your own development? and 10. Will you stay? One could add to the list, but these are the key issues that every employer wants the answer to. Every supervisor who has hired five or more people has been disappointed by at least one of those choices. So there is anxiety on the part of the supervisor that perhaps another mistake will be made. Your challenge is to assure the interviewer that there is no risk in hiring you because you can do the job. Throughout the interview you should share examples and answer questions in such a way that the interviewer knows you have these qualities at a high level. While you may be lacking some of the technical or specialized skills which are desirable, you’ll have a good shot at landing the position if you can convince the person you have these qualities.
Let’s look at these points one by one.
1. What results will you achieve?
Employers want results-oriented people. Therefore, you must describe past results and demonstrate that the results you have achieved in the past are typical of the results you will have in the future. Granted, the challenges you will face in the future will be different, but the employer will be satisfied if you can demonstrate that you seek challenges and consistently obtain positive results.
2. How soon will you become productive?
Employers want quick learners who have a knack for understanding what is expected and are willing to do whatever is necessary to get up to speed as rapidly as possible.
3. How much supervision will you need?
Your supervisor will expect you to be cooperative and accept advice and direction. But your supervisor also wants to give you assignments and know that they will be done on time and at high quality. Your supervisor may want periodic updates from you and he will want you to bring any major problems to his attention, but primarily he just wants the assignment done at high quality, with little intervention from him. Describe how past supervisors have entrusted heavy responsibility to you.
4. Do you generate more value than you cost?
The supervisor is looking for evidence that you are cost conscious and that you perform at a high level. Some people utilize excellent time management and prioritize well; as a result their value exceeds their cost. Throughout the interview look for opportunities to show that you bring real value to any job and any organization.
5. Can you become a high performer?
The employer is assessing your potential throughout the interview. The supervisor certainly wants to determine if you can handle the immediate job tasks, but also wants to determine how far you may go in the organization. Potential is sold by demonstrating a willingness to go beyond the norm, to learn quickly, and to work effectively with others.
6. Will you fit into the culture?
Every organization has its own culture. People with certain personalities will flourish in it while others may die slow lingering deaths. The corporate culture in some organizations rewards workaholism, while
