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Some tips for successful interviews.

1. Prepare for the interview.


Do some research about the company so that you can talk knowledgeably about it. Try to
predict what questions you will be asked, and prepare your answers. To help you do this, look
at the job advertisement and job description/person specification if you have them, as well as
your CV and covering letter. Some general questions you might be asked are:

Why do you want to work for this company?


How would you describe yourself?
What special skills and talents can you bring to this position?
How would your manager describe you?
What did you learn in your last job?
Give an example of a work problem that you have been able to solve.
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
What is your long-term career plan?

Make sure you can answer these questions! Practise pronunciation of difficult words and if
you know the name(s) of the person/people who will be interviewing you, make sure you can
pronounce them properly.
2. Try to make a good first impression.
Wear clean, well-fitting clothes which are appropriate for the job and company you have
applied to. Smile, make eye contact and give a firm handshake. Sit fairly upright in your chair
and sit still. Speak clearly and confidently. The interviewer will probably start by asking you
some general questions to make you feel relaxed. Don't worry about being nervous - its
normal - but dont let you nerves stop you from giving full answers to questions.
3. Give full answers to questions.
The interviewer is asking you questions because s/he wants to know more about you, so don't
mumble or give one-word answers. Dont memorise answers and repeat them word for word.
This sounds mechanical and boring, and youll get stuck if you are asked a question which
you havent prepared for. You will give a much better impression if you speak naturally.
Make sure you answer the question that was asked, and try to give specific answers with
examples. For example, if the interviewer asks you what you learnt in your last job, you
could say: In my role as assistant manager, I improved my organisational skills as I was
responsible for organising the work schedules of 10 full-time and 5 part-time staff. But dont
give so much detailed information that you become boring!
4. Tell the truth.
Don't panic if the interviewer asks you to talk about problems you have had. S/he isn't trying
to make you look bad. You should briefly describe the pr o blem and then explain how you
tried to solve it. You should also say something about how successful the solution was, for
example: The workload on my degree course was very high in the first term, and I found
myself falling behind. I solved the problem by making a study timetable so that I didn't spend
too much time working on each essay. I also booked a couple of one-to-one sessions with my

sociology teacher, who was able to guide my research, which saved me a lot of time. Don't lie
or exaggerate. You must ALWAYS tell the truth, remembering to try to show yourself in a
positive light. A part time job stacking shelves in your local supermarket isn't just only a
part-time job' and it may not be a fantastic opportunity' but it is a chance to meet people,
experience a retail environment and earn some money to support my studies' .
5. Prepare your English.
Before the interview, you can practise your interview technique by getting a friend to roleplay the interview with you. Make a note of any difficulties you have with your English so
that you can research and practise them before the interview. During the actual interview,
don't be afraid to ask the interviewer to repeat something if you didn't understand it. If you
want to check your understanding, repeat the question in your own words: So you're asking
me.' You mean you want to know' This will also give you some time to think of your
answer. Don't pretend you understand something if you don't. Speak clearly and confidently,
not too quickly and don't worry if you make a few mistakes.
6. Ask questions.
Make a list of things you want to know about the job and take it with you to the interview.
When it is your turn to ask questions, have a quick look at it and ask any that haven't been
answered already. Some topics you might like to ask about include:

Promotion prospects
Opportunities for travel
Pension or healthcare scheme
Training opportunities
Cost and availability of accommodation in the area

Use polite question forms like I was wondering... Could you tell me a little bit about...? I'd
like to know something about... At the end of the interview, remember to thank the
interviewer for seeing you.
Examples of questions and examples how to answer them
The questions and answers in this exercise are generic and, in many cases, must be tailored to
your individual situation. Still, the logic behind the answer remains essentially the same.
1) Why are you the best person for the job?
1.
2.
3.
4.

"I've held a lot of positions like this one, and that experience will help me here."
"Because I am good at what I do."
"Our discussion here leads me to believe this is a good place to work."
"You need someone who can produce results, and my background and experience are
proof of my ability. For example..."

2) If asked a point blank question such as: Are you creative? Are you analytical? Can
you work under pressure? etc. What is the best way to answer?

1. Answer yes or no.


2. Answer yes and give a specific example.
3. Answer yes and give an explanation.
3) Tell me about yourself.
1. Outline personal data, hobbies, and interests.
2. Give an overview of your personality and work habits.
3. Give three specific examples of your personality traits and accomplishments.
4) What was your GPA? Why is it low?
1. My GPA is 2.8. basically because I had a lot of fun in college.
2. My GPA is 2.8 because I held a full time job while in college, working my way
through school. It is not reflective of my ability to do the job.
3. My GPA is 2.8 which I don't think is too low, at least compared to my friends.
5) What are you looking for in a position?
1. "I'm looking for an opportunity to apply my skills and contribute to the growth of the
company while helping create some advancement opportunities for myself."
2. "I'm looking for an organization that will appreciate my contributions and reward my
efforts."
3. "I'm looking for a position that will allow me to make enough money to support my
lifestyle. I am a hard worker and will give a concerted effort to earn the money I
need."
6) What do you know about our organization?
1. "I've done a little homework and here is what I know about your organization...(cite
examples)"
2. "Everything I've seen and heard makes me want to be a part of this organization. I
understand your industry is (blank) and your primary customer is (blank). A
particularly exciting part of your business appears to be (blank)."
3. "I know enough to know this is an exciting place to work. It appears to be fit for my
career goals."

7) What are your strengths?


1. "I am good at giving constructive criticism to my coworkers. This honesty is
something I'm very proud of and have found essential to having open working
relationships."
2. "I consider myself to be very consistent. I have proven myself to be someone who can
be counted upon to do what is expected."
3. "I would have to chose between two skills. I am very proud of my determination and
ability to get things done. At the same time, I am very proud of my analytical abilities
and problem solving skills. These skills combine to give me a unique ability to solve
problems and then implement the solutions."
8) How would co-workers describe you?
1. "They perceive me as a leader. The people who have worked with me learned great
deal and accomplished in many cases more than they thought possible."
2. "My employees would tell you they got direction when they needed and the room to
work when it was appropriate. I believe a measure of a good manager is how much he
is able to get done through others."
3. "They perceive me as someone who cared about t them personally and had high
expectations. I get a great deal of satisfaction from helping others do their best. My
former employees would highlight three of my priorities which are to build loyalty
and a team environment, obtain results and develop people."
9) What did you like and dislike about college?
1. "I didn't like the tremendous about of homework some professors assigned us. I liked
those professors who realized I had a life outside of class."
2. "I liked the opportunity to be involved on campus. It was a small campus that allowed
students to take responsibility, organize events and be a part of the planning team. I
can't really think of anything I disliked, college was a wonderful experience."
3. "I liked having Wednesdays off. I think the thing I disliked most was living in the
dorms."
10) Are you willing to relocate?
1. "No."
2. "I'm open to opportunities within the company so if that involves relocation I would
consider it."
3. "I'd move, but I know your headquarters is in Alaska and that's too cold for me."
11) What are your short term goals?
1. "Short term, I just want a job."
2. "Bills are beginning to pile up. In the short run I need to find work so I can keep up
with my obligations."
3. "Short-term, I'd like to find a position that is a good fit and where I can contribute to a
company's bottom line. The position we are here to discuss today would appear to be
such an opportunity. Could you tell me more about it?"

12) Where do you want to be in 5 years?


1. "I haven't really thought that far ahead but I think I'd want your job."
2. "If selected I would hope to meet my goals and take advantage of opportunities to
learn so I will be considered for other positions within the company. I hope to build
my career with a company such as this one."
3. "Long term, I hope to start my own business."
13) Describe a situation you've encountered with a difficult customer.
1. "In my last job I dealt with customers at a retail store. One customer wanted to return
an item she had obviously bought several years ago, which was against store policy. I
talked to her calmly and explained our policies and encouraged her to shop and I
would exchange the item, however, I could not give a refund.".
2. "I rarely encounter a difficult customer because of my excellent customer service."
3. "I had a customer once who claimed her steak was not cooked correctly....I picked up
a knife and cut it open and explained that's the way it's supposed to be."
14) Before we go any further, what kind of money do you need to make?
1. "I feel I am worth at least $30,000."
2. "My salary requirements are negotiable. Your firm has a reputation of compensating
employees fairly and I trust you would do the same in my case. I am very interested in
finding the right opportunity and will be open to any fair offer when I do so."
3. "Money is not very important to me. I need to be able to pay the bills but the work
environment is far more important to me."

Examples the questions about decision making, leadership, organizational skills,


problem solving, and team building
1. Describe the biggest challenge you've had in your last job, internship, or field placement
and how you handled it.
2. Tell me about a situation when you had to learn something new in a short time. How did
you do this?
3. Give us an example of a situation in which you had to use your leadership skills. How
would you describe your leadership style?
4. Summarize a situation where you had to generate a new idea or suggestion at work or
school and tell me about how you got this idea implemented.
5. How have you most constructively dealt with disappointment and turned it into a learning
experience?

6. Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult boss, professor or other person.
How did you successfully interact with this person?

7. Can you recall a time when you delivered more than what was expected of you?

How to Prepare
1.
2.
3.

Refresh your memory about your achievements and highlights of your school and work
careers over the past few years.
Think about challenging problems or obstacles you faced.
Demonstrate past behaviors by drawing on many experiences; think about internships,
classes and projects, activities, team and sports participation, community service, and full
or part-time jobs.

Interview etiquette tips


Before the Interview
1. Your hair should be clean and combed.
2. Nails should be clean and trimmed.
3. Be conservative and err on the side of caution. If the company does not have a dress
code, remember that it is better to overdress than underdress.
4. Arrive at least 10 minutes before your interview. The extra minutes will also give
time to fill out any forms or applications that might be required.
5. Turn off your cell phone or pager.
6. Don't assume that whoever greets you is the receptionist.
During the Interview
1. Make a positive and professional first impression by being assertive and giving a firm
handshake to each interviewer and addressing each interviewer by name as he or she
is introduced.
2. Reinforce your professionalism and your ability to communicate effectively by
speaking clearly and avoiding "uhs", "you knows", and slang.
3. Use appropriate working. You won't receive extra points for each work that has more
than 10 letters. Use technical terms only when appropriate to the question.
After the Interview
1. Shake each interviewer's hand and thank each interviewer by name.
2. Send a thank you note as soon after the interview as possible.

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