1.Why do you feel you can be successful in this position?
Analysis: A fairly open-ended question, this provides an opportunity for applicant to demonstrate a sense of excitement and challenge. The response will give the interviewer key information on applicant’s drive and self-confidence in relation to this position.
OK Answer: “I don’t know; I am pretty good at most things I do. If I get offered this job and decide to take it I’m sure I could rise to the occasion. I’ve always been successful in the past”.
Evaluation: It may sound acceptable, but it is lacking in several ways. First, the language is weak. Phrases such as “I don’t know” and “pretty good” do not reflect the sort of aggressiveness required to break into the best companies. Further, lumping this position with everything else the applicant has done dilute the person’s success and real enthusiasm for this particular position. Finally, the suggestion that the applicant might not take the position once offered also reflects a lack of enthusiasm.
Winning Answer: “Given my history, this is the perfect position at this point in my career. I have been studying this field and watching your organization for several years in anticipation of such an opportunity. I have the requisite skills [tell a brief story to prove it]. I am in a perfect position to take this job and really run with it”.
Evaluation: This is a strong response because it tells the interviewer the applicant has both the skill and the knowledge to do the job. The story illustrating the applicant’s skill reinforces the initial statement. Finally, the applicant’s intention to “run with it” supports the desired enthusiasm and aggressiveness.
2. What is your greatest strength and weakness, and how will these affect your performance here?
Analysis: The biggest danger with this question is that it is really two questions in one, plus a follow-up. The two pitfalls are not taking the part about strengths seriously enough, and taking the part about weaknesses too seriously. Remember, your responses will not only inform the interviewer of your assets and liabilities but also present a broad view of your values and your sense of self-worth.
OK Answer: In terms of strengths, I really can’t pinpoint one thing that stands out. I think my skills are pretty well rounded. As far as weaknesses go, I guess I get bored if a project drags on too long.
Evaluation: The biggest problem with this response is that the applicant essentially refuses to answer the first part of the question. The response to the second part hints at a potential lack of enthusiasm. Finally, the responses to the first two parts of the question leave the applicant with little chance for a respectable response to the third point.
Winning Answer: In terms of strengths, I believe my greatest asset is that I have a highly organized mind, capable of creating order out of confusion. My greatest weakness perhaps is that I have little patience for people who don’t value the same sense of order that I do. I believe my organizational skills can help this organization achieve its goals more quickly, and that my appreciation of streamlining complex problems can sometimes rub off on my coworkers.
Evaluation: This response does three important things. It clearly identifies the applicant’s greatest strength. It identifies a weakness that really could just as easily be perceived as a strength. Finally, it points out the benefits of the applicant’s strength and weakness to the organization and to other employees.
3. For job advancement, would you consider further education?
Analysis: This is a simple question designed to gauge your ambition and see if your level of investment in your future dictates an investment in you by the company.
OK Answer: I don’t know; I’ve got my B.A. in management and I think I got a pretty good education. I think real world experience is far more valuable than anything you learn in school.
Evaluation: Although this response attempts to show the applicant in a positive light and indirectly to flatter the interviewer (who is part of the “real world”), it speaks poorly of applicant’s willingness to improve. Consequently, applicant conveys, at best, a lack of ambition and, at worst, arrogance.
Winning Answer: I learned a lot as an undergraduate and would certainly consider an advanced degree for the right reasons. I’d want to be careful though; I think a lot of people go back to school for the wrong reasons. If I feel that I am doing the work that I really value and I need more education to excel in that field then I won’t hesitate at all.
Evaluation: This response shows ambition, enthusiasm, and drive. It also shows that the applicant has a discriminating mind and is careful about making major career decision.
4.How do you go about influencing someone to accept your ideas?
Analysis: Your answer will tell the interviewer, first, how comfortable you are with the notion of influencing others, and second, how able you are at influencing.
OK Answer: I usually depend on the value of the idea. If it’s a good idea and the people I’m dealing with are reasonable, I generally don’t have much trouble getting my ideas accepted.
Evaluation: This response does not address the real problem, which is how you deal with people who don’t think your ideal is good. It suggests that you are willing to work in a pleasant situation, but not in a discordant one.
Wining Answer: That’s something I have worked very hard on over the years. At some point I realized that good ideas, even great ideas, sometimes don’t get accepted. I now appreciate the fact that the way you present an idea is just as important as the idea itself. When trying to influence people I usually try to put myself in their position and think about their perspective. I’m then able to present thoughts to them in a way more likely to succeed.
Evaluation: This answer demonstrates your appreciation of the complexity of interpersonal communication and the difficulty in getting others to change their minds. It conveys an understanding of the importance of strategy when influencing someone and articulates a reasoned approach. Finally, you demonstrate an understanding of the importance of form as well as substance when communicating under difficult circumstances.
5.How should supervisors and subordinates interact?
Analysis: This question is designed to discover applicant’s approach to communication in the organizational hierarchy. The response is likely to indicate an applicant’s level of skill in a potentially complex area.
OK Answer: I like to think that we can be friends. After all if you’re going to work closely with someone you might as well get to know that person. That way everyone understands each other and you can avoid a lot of unnecessary conflict.
Evaluation: The worst thing about this answer is that it shows a high level of immaturity. Everyone knows that “conflict” is an inevitable part of the working life. The notion that creating close friendship can simplify things shows a real lack of understanding of the relationship between work and personal boundaries.
Winning Answer: I believe clear communication throughout the hierarchy of an organization is critical to the company’s success and well being. I’d like to think I’ve developed good strong skills in that area. In terms of superior-subordinate relationships, I think it’s most important to realize that each person and each relationship is different. The best approach for me is to begin with no assumptions and see how the relationship evolves.
Evaluation: This answer indicates an understanding of the complexity of interpersonal communication and the diversity of human relationships. Applicant clearly articulates the importance of strong communication skills and conveys confidence in this area.
6.How would you be described by a close friend?
Analysis: This question is designed to shed some light on an applicant’s character. It’s one those questions that seems to have nothing to do with an applicant’s potential, but it reflects a trend in business for hiring people with high personal standards as well as strong skills.
OK Answer: I think people would say I’m a fun person to be with. The best way to describe me is I like to work hard and play hard.
Evaluation: Although this response may sound entirely positive to some of you, it raises several problems. First, it does not answer the question, leaving interviewer wondering whether applicant has any chose relationships.
Winning Answer: My friends are very important to me. The most important aspect of my relationship with them is the sense that we can rely on each other. We’re all very busy so there are times we don’t meet often. With the few people I would call close friends; what counts is knowing that we are there for each other.
Evaluation: This response reflects a sense of maturity, so much a concern in today’s corporate world. Applicant’s commitment to high standards and to a few key people suggests that the individual is well balanced.
7.How do you get along with coworkers?
Analysis: The response to this question, gives the interviewer an overall impression of your ability to communicate effectively. It is one of the most critical communication questions because 80 percent of the people leave their jobs because they don’t fit in with other people. Your ability to communicate your effectiveness in peer relationships will help ease the interviewer’s concern that you may be a bad match.
OK Answer: I get along mostly with everyone. I am an easygoing kind of person. I’ve never really met anyone that I couldn’t get along with. Once in a while everyone meets someone that they don’t like as much as the rest of the staff, but I try to overlook that. If someone is really obnoxious they usually don’t last anyway – so I wait it out, knowing that eventually they’ll disappear.
Evaluation: Although this response seems fairly harmless, it has several problems. First, no one gets along with everyone. After making this broad statement the interviewee then goes to talk about people that he or she doesn’t like, which makes the response sound somewhat contradictory.
Winning Answer: I generally get along very well with coworkers. Occasionally I might run into a conflict with someone. When that happens I usually focus on what the conflict is about rather then on personalities. I find that approach helps me maintain a respectful relationship with anyone, and often leads to resolution and strengthened relationships.
Evaluation: This response suggests that applicant is well balanced, with a high level of human relation skills. By making the distinction between problems and personalities, applicant appears to be someone who has worked out problems in the past and has a history of successful interpersonal relationships.
8.Under what conditions have you been most successful in your undertakings?
Analysis: This question probes the conditions under which you work best. Your response will reveal information about your preferred way of working, factors that influence your chances of success, and possibly your limitation.
OK Answer: I can succeed at just about anything I put my mind to. As long as I know what’s expected of me, I usually get results.
Evaluation: Although this seems like a reasonable response, it has flaws. It is what we would call a generic response that leaves a weak impression at best. The real problem with this answer is that it presumes the organization is looking for people who are good at following others directions, not charting their own. In these lean times, most corporations are seeking people who are self-motivated. Communicating that you are someone who needs direction from others can be deadly.
Winner Answer: My approach to problem solving involves a systematic process of gathering relevant information about a problem, clearly identifying the problem, setting a strategy, and then implementing it. I find most people skip the first two parts and jump straight to strategy. As long as I have enough information and a clear view of the problem, I can tackle anything.
Evaluation: This response demonstrates that applicant has solved difficult problems in the past, has thought about strategy, and has developed a method for solving difficult problems. It also shows a sense of confidence and willingness to use proven skills in the future.
9.How hard do you work to achieve your objectives?
Analysis: The most obvious thing about this question is that the interviewer wants to hear that applicant is a hard worker. The key is presenting a response that shows applicant’s willingness and ability to fulfill responsibilities.
OK Answer: My energy level on a particular task depends on the difficulty of the task and how badly I want to achieve it. If I decide that something is really important I’ll put my 100% into it and make it happen.
Evaluation: The first mistake here is the introduction of the idea that applicant has a limited reservoir of energy. No successful company is interested in anyone who doesn’t seem to have unbounded energy. Second, the notion that the applicant works hard only on tasks that he or she is personally committed to suggests an unwillingness to accept less than desirable assignments.
Winning Answer: For me the question is not how hard I work. It’s given that if I’ve set an objective or if I’ve been given an important assignment, I would work as hard as necessary to achieve the desired results. The question for me is how smart do I work – that is, what can I do to make the completion of the task come as easily and smoothly as possible so that I can move on to other things.
Evaluation: The strength of this response is that it suggests that applicant has unlimited energy and high level of commitment. It also indicates that applicant approaches problems so as to ensure maximum utilization of his or her resources – what the question was really after.
10. In what ways have you been a leader?
Analysis: Leadership potential is one of the most highly valued traits in the corporate world. Your response to this question can go a long way in the campaign for a job offer.
OK Answer: Some people are born leaders and I think I’m one of them. I don’t think leadership is a quality you can teach. Either you have it or you don’t.
Evaluation: This response does not say anything substantive about applicant, and it implies that this person would not contribute to the leadership potential of other people in the organization.
Winning Answer: I’ve had several jobs where I’ve played a leadership role, responsible for seeing that jobs get done, and I’ve always had successful outcomes. More important though, I feel in the past few years that I’ve developed the ability to spot potential in others and have been able to foster their development. For me, that’s the real challenge of leadership; helping others meet their potential.
Evaluation: This indicates that you have a successful track record. More important, it shows that you have an understanding of what the outcome of effective leadership can be, thus suggesting that you are speaking from experience.
11.What are your personal long-term and short-term goals? How did you determine them? How did you prepare to meet them, in the long run and short run?
Analysis: This is a difficult question because it is really a four-part statement requiring a multitude of responses. It is important to remember with this set of questions – and they are often presented as a set – that you are being asked about personal goals not professional goals. This is important because chances are you will be asked separately about professional aspirations, and if you don’t distinguish between the two you are left with less than impressive task of having to repeat yourself. The question is in the planning and organizing section because it sheds light on your ability to use these skills in your personal life.
OK Answer: I read somewhere that my generation will be the first one in Pakistan history to be worse off than the previous generation. That concerns me and my goal is to make sure I don’t come up short in the long run. That may sound pessimistic but I’m a realist and I believe it’s important to face facts.
Evaluation: Aside from focusing on the negative condition of the economy – an unwise move – this response is deficient for several reasons. First, it attempts to lump all the questions into one. Second, it is too philosophical, thus revealing nothing about planning or organizing. Finally, it suggests that applicant has a less than optimistic view of his or her future and is primarily concerned with overcoming obstacles and surviving – not thriving.
Winning Answer: Like any realistic goals, mine change periodically. My personal strategy, both long and short term, is to keep assessing where I am in relation to a current goal and modifying my plans accordingly. For e.g., every five years I establish a personal plan with an overall goal and set of objectives. I review my progress every six months and make the necessary modification. My current plan obviously includes a career shift toward more satisfying work. Aside from that, I’m meeting the personal goals I’ve set most recently.
Evaluation: This response shows an organized mind, one adept at planning. By discussing your approach to personal goal setting, you convey a sense of self-esteem and confidence in your ability to manage personal affairs.
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