PART A: TIPS TO ANSWER Tip 1: Don’t just give your life story, the truth is the interviewer isn’t interested in it.. Tip 6: Avoid stating that you’re looking for a new challenge if
Trang 11 CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF?
PART A: TIPS TO ANSWER
Tip 1: Don’t just give your life story, the truth is the interviewer isn’t interested in it Unless you are specifically asked to give your life story, stick to your current situation, career and education
Tip 2: Don’t give your interviewer your complete personal or employment history You want to pitch yourself Give one that is compelling and and concise that shows why you’re the perfect person for this job
Tip 3: Keep your answers short and sweet Keep on points and don’t talk about personal likes, hobbies or any dislikes
Tip 4: Begin with 2 or 3 specific experiences or accomplishments that you want your interviewer to know about, then finish it up by talking about how your prior experiences have prepared you for this certain role
Tip 5: To answer this, talk about what you have done in order to prepare yourself to be the best for this job Use 1 or 2 examples to back it up and ask if they want more details If they do, then give them plenty of
examples of your experience and background
Tip 6: Connect your experience with why you have applied for this job opportunity
Tip 7: Only give positive statements, sell your experiences and skills as
a benefit
PART B : STEPS TO ANSWER
Step 1: Introduce briefly about yourself: name, age, education, major subject, education ranking
Step 2: Present the experience you get when working in the most recent 2-3 companies and what are the benefits of that experience for new job?
Step 3: Demonstrate the skills, qualities that can meet the requirements
of employers Do not ever think that employers will find out what qualities you fit their job, you should tell your employer that you have what qualities they are looking for
Step 4: Present the employer why you are applying for this company
Trang 2 Step 5: Interview your employer Ask the employers the information that you’re interested and especially make employers believe that you’re interested in this job
2 WHY ARE YOU LEAVING YOUR LAST JOB?
Employers ask this question to get a clearer picture of who you might be as an
employee and the circumstances of your departure from your last job but they can always check that with your references They’re also asking this to determine if
you’re someone who might not stay long enough with the company after you’ve been trained
PART A: TIPS TO ANSWER:
Tip 1: Never get tricked into talking bad about a colleague or employer
Tip 2: Don’t mention money at this part, or you may seem like you’re a mercenary
Tip 3: If you already have a job, then say it is about developing your career and yourself as a person
Tip 4: If you were part of a downsized company, keep positive and short
Tip 5: If you happened to be fired, then you need good explanation
Whatever the circumstances were, don’t talk about the drama and stay positive
Tip 6: Avoid stating that you’re looking for a new challenge if you can’t back it up, because the interviewer will dig deeper
PART B : SAMPLE ANSWERS
Sample 1: I’d love to be a part of product development from start to finish, and I know that I would have that opportunity here
Sample 2: I’m looking for a job that has more responsibility
Sample 3: I left my last job because I wanted to spend more time with
my family I’m now ready to go back to work full- time
3 WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WEAKNESS?
PART A: TIPS TO ANSWER
Tip 1: Never deny that you don’t have any weaknesses Everyone has them and if you refuse to admit that you have weaknesses to your interviewer, then they will most likely to write down that you’re lacking
in self- awareness, arrogant, or untruthful
Tip 2: Be completely honest, but end on\ a positive note
Trang 3 Tip 3: Explain that your happy to take on more training to develop your skills
Tip 4: Show how you managed to turn your weaknesses into strengths (e.g education or training) and use your strengths to reduce the impact
of your weaknesses
Tip 5: We all have weaknesses
Just think about how they might affect the impression of you to your interviewer before you say anything
PART B : HOW TO ANSWER
Many career books will tell you to pick a strength and present it as a weakness, like
“ I work way too much
I just work until I get told to stop”
WRONG This is a big no-no First, when you use a strength and present it as a weakness, its deceiving
Second, it misses the whole point of the question
You need to pick a weakness that you have actually been working on
overcome, like
“ I have had trouble with planning and prioritization, but I’m now starting to correct this
I just started using pocket planner”
PART C : SAMPLE ANSWER
My biggest weakness is having very little to no patience when co-workers
withhold vital information to ruin the success of the assignment I have tried to really maximize knowledge-sharing by bringing co-workers together before
any assignment to make sure that everyone is on the same page Yet, there
have been times where people withheld information after these efforts It is
these times, that I have learnt to privately speak with that person in order to
understand why the information was withheld
4 WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST STRENGTH?
You should have already mentioned your main weaknesses and strengths in
your cover letter or CV In order to answer a question like this, just go over
what is written in your resume Although, be prepared to back up your answers with examples
Trang 4This gives you a chance to launch your unique selling points, or 3-4 key
strengths Be sure to keep in mind the job requirements and compare these with your attributes, like your skills, abilities, experience, and personality Where they match is where you need to consider them to be major strengths
PART A: TIPS TO ANSWER
Tip 1: Share your true strengths and not those that you believe your interviewer wants to hear
Tip 2: Choose strengths that are targeted to this job
Tip 3: Give specific strengths
Instead of using people skills use relationship buiding or persuasive communication
Tip 4: Follow up with an example of how you have demonstrated these
in professional setting
PART B : SAMPLE ANSWERS
Sample 1: I was told that I am ethical, honest, and reliable
Sample 2: I am flexible enough to handle changing environments
Sample 3: My sense of urgency If I know that a task is important, then I will work my hardest to get it done on time
Sample 4: Able to cope with any setback and learn from my mistakes
5 WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF BEING IN 3-5 YEARS FROM NOW?
Your interviewer is wanting you to display that you have really thought about your future, your ambition to really progress in your selected industry They also want you to be able to verify that this isn’t just a time filling position
If you get asked this question, be specific, as well as honest about your future goals But ensure that you are considering that a hiring manager will want to know:
1 If you have set a realistic expectation for your career
2 If you have ambitions
3 If the position is aligned with your growth and goals Your best bet is to
really think about where the position will or could take you and answer along those lines
PART A: TIPS TO ANSWER
Tip 1: Try and avoid general or vague answers like “ I would expect to
be in a management position by then” or “ I would hope to grow with
Trang 5the responsibility that I’m offered and to really develop my skills as far
as I can”
Tip 2: Talk about your interest in the industry of the company
Emphasize the value that you would bring to the organization, and what you can do for it
Tip 3: Show that you are ambitious, but have realistic goals Saying that you expect to be senior manager after 3 years, won’t go well
Tip 4: Be specific, but very flexible Your interviewer wants to know what you want
Hiring, training, and then developing staff can cost a lot of money, around $9000 in order to recruit a new graduate, so they want to ensure that you are really committed to staying with their company
Tip 5: This question is one that will let you demonstrate that you have done your research in the career paths that are open to you within the company Try to be more specific
PART B : SAMPLE ANSWERS
Sample 1: That actually depends on how well I perform in my job and what career opportunities come my way The bottom line is, that I want
to have improved my skill sets and to continue making an on-going contribution to any company that I may be working for
Sample 2: In 5 years, I plan to have improved my abilities and become the leader in my field This means that I can contribute more to my employer and their company
6 WHY SHOULD WE HIRE YOU?
This is one of the most important questions that you have to answer carefully This is your chance to really stand out and bring attention to your skills,
especially the ones that haven’t been addressed
PART A: TIPS TO ANSWER
Tip 1: You should cover these 3 things: you can not only do the work, but you are able to deliver amazing results, you can fit in with the culture and team, and that you’re better hire than any other person
Tip 2: Stating that you need a job or are just really good, won’t make the break
Tip 3: Explain why you would make a great employee, why you would fit perfectly for the job and company, and what you have to offer
Trang 6 Tip 4: Don’t speculate about the other candidates and their flaws or strengths Ensure that you are focused on you
Tip 5: Keep it short and sweet, but be sure to highlight your achievements
PART B : SAMPLE ANSWER
“ My skills in sales seem to fit this job perfectly My success at XYZ in
achieving annual growth rate of 35% support this I have worked with similar product lines and have full in-depth understanding of all the technical aspects
My experience as a member of a large team will help to contribute to your
department and I am very enthusiastic about new challenges that will be
involved in this position.”
7 WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS ORGANIZATION?
Your interviewer wants to know if you did your research about all the job
requirements and the company that you applied to Remember, if you don’t
have knowledge about the company, it will be noticeable within the first few words of your answer
PART A: TIPS TO ANSWER
Tip 1: Doing the background work will make you stand out Find out who the main people are; were they in news lately?
Tip 2: Demonstrate that you have researched the company Know the products, the firm size, the reputation in the industry, values, and history
Tip 3: You don’t have to know every date and person, but you need a good understanding of the company
Tip 4: Allow your interviewer to tell you more about the company Be sure to pay attention
Tip 5: Begin with one line that shows you understand the goals of the company, using key phrases and words from the company site, but then make it personal, such as “ I really believe in this approach because” or
“ I’m personally drawn to this mission because”
PART B: SAMPLE ANSWERS
Sample 1: This company has great reputation for amazing customer service
Sample 2: Your company’s products are the highest rated in the industry
Trang 7 Sample 3: Your company was awarded a commendation for the help that you gave to hurricane victims
8 WHY DO YOU WANT THIS JOB?
This is basically the same thing as “ Why do you want to work here?”, “ Why did you apply for this job?” and “ Why do you want to work for our
company?” Companies want to hire those who are passionate about the job, so you need to have a great answer about why you want this job
PART A: TIPS TO ANSWER
Tip 1: Try to find a specific feature that the company prices themselves on: training, client, base, public image, individuality, etc
Tip 2: Talk about their needs and explain what you can do for them It’s not about what you want here
Tip 3: Show them you want to be a part of their success story, by helping them to achieve their goal and meet their challenges
Tip 4: Tie in your knowledge of them into the interests and skills that lead you to apply
Tip 5: Demonstrate that you have researched the company
PART B : STEPS TO ANSWER
Step 1: Identify a few key factors that make the role perfect for you, such as “ I love customer support because of the consistent human interaction and the satisfaction from helping people solve issues.”
Step 2: Then talk about why you love the company such as “ I have always been really passionate about education and I believe you guys are doing great things, and I want to be a part of it.”
PART C : SAMPLE ANSWERS
Sample 1 : After researching your company, I have learnt that it is an industry leader and has amazing reputation I was also really impressed
by the mission statement of the company, as well as the values and culture I strongly feel that your company is where I would like to work and be associated with
Sample 2: There is only a limited number of opportunities for advancement with my current employer, which is why I am very set on working for a larger corporation such as yours, where I would have more possibilities to show what I am able to do
9 LET’S TALK ABOUT SALARY WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Trang 8 This tends to be a tricky question for many, and when it comes to an interview
it can be a dangerous situation Talking salary prior to being sure you have
made an impression is a mistake that is commonly made When in negotiation, there is power in knowledge
When it comes in responding, the #1 thing to remember is to do your research before the interview That’s right, prepare for the question just in case You
can use sites such as Glassdoor and Payscale to get an idea of what the low,
median and high pay rate if for the position your applying for It’s
recommended to answer with the highest number in the range you come up
with based on your level of education, experience, and skills You also want the hiring manager to know you’re open for negotiations
PART A: TIPS TO ANSWER
Tip 1: Don’t ignore the question
There are employers and hiring managers that will automatically deny a follow up on any application or interview where the applicant skipped questions, so be sure not to ignore them This isn’t the part where you want to be stubborn because the interviewer could see you as being as hassle and move on to the next applicant
Tip 2: Don’t be too specific
Remember to be flexible, your answer is simply a starting point , a suggestion If you throw out a number that’s too high you could find a quick close to the interview On the other hand, if you throw out a number that’s too low, you could end up earning a salary that’s less than you worth or need to live on
Tip 3: Be flexible
This is important, you want to remain flexible at this stage You may mention that salaries in your past have been between a broad range You could also let them know that you know the suggested pay rate for the position you’re applying for falls into a certain range ( such as $20000 -
$30000)
Tip 4: Defer the question
If you don’t believe it’s the correct time to talk about the numbers, you could defer the question by stating your pay rate is open for negotiation You could also state you would prefer to discuss pay in person, or ask the employer to offer a pay rate
Trang 9 PART B : WAYS TO ANSWER
When asked “ What are your pay rate expectations?”, there are 3 possible
answers
Method 1: Don’t answer
o While ignoring the question isn’t a good thing, there are other ways to
avoid answering the question directly You can state that you would like to know more about the job before getting into the numbers
Method 2: Give a range
o If you are comfortable providing an answer at this stage and you’ve done your homework, you can provide a salary range Remember, you can use sites like Payscale to get an average salary range based on the job title, location and education or experience level
o After you have began the negotiation process, you will want to include
benefits with your salary calculations as well Say the employer offers improved health insurance than you currently have, this would be worth it
in the long run to take a little less pay
Method 3: If necessary, give one number
o If you have been asked, yet can’t provide a range as your answer, then go with a number in the middle of your salary range, possibly lower if you can
In this situation you’re aiming to come in under their target rate, not over it
10 DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR US?
There’s a good chance you understand the interview process is more than a
chance for being hired, where the hiring manager can raise your stress levels, but an opportunity to really find out if the job is right for you Is there anything you would like to know about the job you’re applying for, or the company?
How about the department or team?
These are all things you likely to encounter during the interview, so it’s a good idea to be prepared with some less common questions as well
PART A: TIPS TO ANSWER
Tip 1: Remain brief: Remember that there could be other interviewees with appointment times
Tip 2: Ask questions: You should ask questions about the job positions, company, training, and so on You don’t want to stat off by asking about holidays off, pension plans, etc
Trang 10 Tip 3: Prepare questions
You want to be prepared when you go in, make notes or refer to questions on paper if needed Not only does this help you get information you may want to know, but also shows you can be prepared
Tip 4: Use the time wisely
You only have a short amount of time, but if you are able to provide any additional information that the hiring manager may not know already, this is a great time to let them know
Tip 5: Questions don’t have to wait until the end
If a question happens to come up naturally, then ask it Traditionally an interview is a conversation, not an interrogation
PART B : SAMPLE ANSWERS
o Interviewer: That appears to have covered it all, unless you have any other questions?
o Interviewee: I had made notes to inquire about your training process, but we already went over that I believe we were able to cover
everything at the moment, thank you
PART C: LIST OF SAMPLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS TO ASK
EMPLOYERS
1 When looking into the company’s near future, what do you believe will be the most difficult challenges to face?
2 What new trends do you believe have an influence on the industry, and how
is your company prepared for them?
3 What are you able to tell me about the company’s plans for growth?
4 What does your company constitute as success in the current position?
5 What experience and skill sets would make a candidate more ideal?
6 If tomorrow was my first day, what would be top priority on my list?
7 What do you believe would be the largest challenges within this position?
8 How would you explain the company’s culture and background?
11 ARE YOU A TEAM PLAYER?
When it comes to the workplace, teamwork is usually an important art of
making things run smoothly Because of this, questions based around
teamwork are on top of an interview’s list When asking, they will be looking
at several areas that show evidence of a good team player
Trang 11Usually, all interviewees answer yes when asked this question However, it’s not a simple yes or no question, if you answer yes then you should be able to back your answer with examples of your behavior
PART A: TEAM PLAYER REQUIREMENTS
1 The ability to effectively communicate with other team members,
co-workers, etc
2 The ability to notice, and understand viewpoints of other team members,
co-workers, etc
3 The ability to acknowledge, and appreciate the contribution of your
position within the company
PART B: SAMPLE ANSWERS
Sample 1: Yes, I enjoy being a team player and have had many previous opportunities in school and work to gain experience for developing my skills as being a team player I have been on projects such as abc
Sample 2: I have found that working with others helps increase the performance, and it provides better work flow This helps get the project done on time while keeping everything in motion An example is a recent project where abc
12 WHAT IS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE YOU HAVE EVER MADE?
A THE PURPOSE OF THIS QUESTION:
With this question, the interviewer is not trying to get you to admit to anything, but to see how you react to the question, how you answer and how you
approach your error, along with the steps you have taken to correct it There is
a lot that can be learnt by watching how someone reacts and handles their
mistakes
B TIPS TO ANSWER
Remember to always state that you understand where you first went wrong,
and that you have learnt from your experience If you ca, provide an example
of something, as far back as possible
C SAMPLE ANSWER
Sample 1: If I could go back in time, I would have went for a Business studies degree, rather than hospitality
Trang 12 Sample 2: I remained in a stable job for years, but it didn’t offer me any opportunities to grow with the company
13 WHY IS THERE A GAP IN YOUR WORK HISTORY?
PART A: TIPS TO ANSWER
Tip 1: Avoid giving an answer related to illness, rehabilitation or unemployment, even if any these are because of a recession it could be seen as high risk to an interviewer
Tip 2: Remember to remain honest, while they may not deny you over the gap, they just might for being dishonest If you got laid off, say so
Tip 3: Nervous about providing answer? Just keep in mind this is a great chance to build on the trust of the employer, relax and be honest
PART B : STEPS TO ANSWER
1 Put an emphasize on why you were let go from a previous job
2 Answers could include something along the lines of the company had to downsize at some point during your employment, or that your position in the company was relocated
3 Stay positive, even when talking about why you left your previous job
Provide emphasize on any activities you may have done and include them
in your gaps to help show professional standings
PART C: SAMPLE ANSWERS
The company went through some downsizing and they had to let several
people in my department go Unfortunately being one of the last hired my
name was on the list Nonetheless, I am proud of my position at Company X, and I can provide positive recommendations if needed
14 TELL ME ABOUT A PROBLEM YOU HAVE SOLVED?
The answer to this question can be rather tricky, and even more challenging if you’ve never been in the manager’s position or a leader with responsibility of
of some kind Your answer needs to be resourceful, show that you have good decision making skills Keep it short and simple, but explain how you
approached the issue
PART A: STEPS TO ANSWER
1 Think back to a time you had an issue
2 Describe the issue, what the outcomes was expected to be, and the solutions that were available