Q.1 Where
do you see this industry in 5 years time?
A. Although this is the type of question that
would be asked in a
more
senior position everyone should know something about their
industry.
The
interviewer is not asking for a prediction but looking to see
that
you understand the current issues facing the industry and
what
the future trends may be.
Although
possible answers are unlimited and will be tailored to
each
type of business you may find the following suggestions
helpful:
-
More industry consolidation into larger corporations
-
Move away from retail outlets to e-commerce web selling
-
More niche players in the market
-
Globalisation of the supplier network
-
Stronger sales growth in 3rd world countries
-
Wider diversity in product ranges
-
Increased reliance on software to run the business
A
more senior managerial position will require you to have an in
depth
knowledge of the future direction of the industry. This is
because
your decisions may have a direct impact on the long
term
direction the company is taking.
If
you are going for a more junior position and the question comes
up be grateful. By answering
with a full and carefully considered reply it will distinguish your application
and elevate you above the competition.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.2 What
do you know about our company and its product range?
A. This type of question is likely to be more akin
to a sales
position.
This is where you should have done your homework and
understood
what the company was all about. Failure to have done
this
could be a major setback!
Make
sure you have prepared your answer by researching the
company.
Of course these days the internet is the best medium
for
doing this.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. 3 What
has attracted you to this job?
A. You may find that you only have a limited
amount of
information
on the role. Your understanding of the role may be
limited
top what you have read in the job description. You may
need
to reply to the interviewer looking for clarification about
some
of the aspects of the job.
Concentrate
on describing the challenge, rewarding career, and
the
experience you will gain. Do not mention money if you can
help
it. Definitely do not say anything negative about your
previous
employer/boss and wanting to leave. ‘’I just cannot wait
to leave my existing employer’’
will not go down well.However the question will not just be role related but
will includethe wider organisation. Additionally describe what you perceive
tobe the forward thinking elements of the organisation and what advantages they
appear to offer. For example their use of new technology.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.4 Why
do you want to change employer and join our
organisation and what as an organisation can we offer that is
better than your current employer?
A. It is asking for a direct comparison between
your current
employer
and your future employer. An interviewer wants to hear
that
you are a valued member in your current / previous role. You
have
worked for an organisation that has trained you to a high
level
and you have been providing a strong contribution to their
skilled
workforce. They hope to leverage these skills in their
organisation.
A
typical answer which deals with such a comparison should
read…….
‘My
current organisation has been a great career move for me I
have
learned many new skills eg. x. There is a great team ethic
and
I feel I have made a strong contribution to their sales team /
office
/ project team etc. However I see your organisation and the
role
on offer as a new challenge which can leverage my skills and
allow me to challenge
myself set new goals and further my career in a way that the current
organisation perhaps doesn’t offer.’’ Of course this answer needs to be
tailored to meet your particular circumstances. Start by listing what you like
about your current
organisation
and the experience you have gained. Compare this
with
the list of skills and benefits you expect to find in the new
organisation.
Use this list to tailor your answer.
Stay
clear of talking about money. The sub text of this question
and
so many others like it is the interviewer is asking ‘What’s in it
for me?’
You
should be replying I am making a contribution and this is
how………include
examples of how you can make the
contribution,
which backs up your claims. By saying you want to
leverage
your skills in the new role and show how you can make
a
strong contribution is precisely what the interviewer wants to
hear.
If
you say or even imply the reason for the new job is that you are
looking
for more money or additional benefits, then this does not
imply
you are making a contribution to the new organisation. You
are
in fact saying this is ‘’what is in it for me’’ and does not
address
the interviewers needs!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. 5 What
do you dislike about the role being offered?
A. This is an unusual question but reeks of
negativity. Keep the
answer
neutral by saying there is no elements that appear to be
of
any concern. Then try to keep the reply upbeat by saying you
are
thrilled to be considered for such an exciting position which is
a
great opportunity to advance your career.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. 6 What
have you learnt most from your past career?
A. Another chance to talk about your successes but
a truly open
ended
question. You should talk about your specific skills and
experience
that you can offer. Remember the skills need to be
transferable
to the new employer.
A
closing statement like the one below will also add value, it will
distinguish
your answer and elevate your application......‘I have
learnt
many things as you can imagine. But one point always
rings
true. Every one needs to be treated with respect, their
opinion
should be valued and they should be encouraged to
contribute
to the good of the organisation.’
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.7 What
would you most like not to do in this role?
A. Dangerous question. The interviewer is probing
for things that
you
didn’t previously like and then they can ask a follow on
question
about why you didn’t like them. Beware of this trap. Turn
the
question round and give a ‘model answer’. ….’In an ideal
world…..I would like
to avoid any bureaucracy or red tape which
can
delay decisions. Like anyone I am always keen for good
progress
to be made at all times and everything to run smoothly’.
‘I
would like to avoid the situation in the last role where we had
tight
deadlines and 3 of my staff went off on long term sick with
the
winter flu last year. Although we achieved our targets it was
only
through hard effort, team-work and long hours’.
See
how these answers portray you in a good light and turn a
negative
into a positive. Make sure you have prepared an answer
otherwise
you could see yourself stumbling!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. 8 Why
personal qualities or attributes will you bring to the role or
job and ........Why should I hire you? (is the same question just
phrased differently).
A. This is where you need to have a personal pitch
of 2 -3
sentences
pre-prepared. This needs to relate to the job
description.
Go through the qualities listed line by line. Then add
in
the additional personal qualities that you bring to the
role.
It
is always worth using a qualifying phrase such as ‘colleagues
have
said of me…I am a great motivator/team builder/technician
etc.’.
It sounds better if there is a 3rd party endorsement. It
doesn’t
sound like you are bragging but a colleague is speaking
on
your behalf.
In addition you will
need to have relevant examples which you can
offer
to expand on. The personal qualities for the role will be
attributes
such as hard-working, motivating, good communication
skills,
desire to succeed
You
should end your answer with a statement such as ‘ do you
think
these qualities are what you are looking for from a
successful
candidate?’. It plants a seed in the mind of the
interviewer
that they are.
If
they reply that they were expecting other qualities then discuss
them
and offer examples of how you have these and examples of
these
in action. You need to leave the interviewer in no doubt you
have
the skills and can demonstrate this with examples.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. 9 Have
you ever refused to do something at work that you were
asked to do?
A. Straight rebuttal. No interviewer wants to hear
that you may be
a
trouble maker?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.10 How long would it take for you to start making a real
contribution to the organisation?
A. There is no point in blurting out an answer
here because the
contribution
could be anywhere and you could go off in the wrong
direction. Bat the
question back to get a more precise idea. ‘’In
what
particular area of my responsibilities did you have in mind?’’
‘’Of
course there will be a short learning curve while I get up to
speed
but in the past I have prided myself on being a quick
learner
who can make an effective contribution in a short space of
time.
I see this opportunity as no different although I accept it will
be
a challenge.’’
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.11 What is your typical working week in hours?
A. Whatever it takes to get the job done
‘’I
like to think I am and effective and efficient worker who gets
through
a full workload each week. However there are times when
I
need to work late and weekends and this is fine. This is often
due
to uneven demands on my time. I will put whatever effort it
takes
to complete my role.’’
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.12 Candidate
x has these skills how do you feel your skills match
theirs?
A. A ridiculous comparison question. Don’t be
drawn on making
comparisons
with other candidates, it is a golden rule. Stay away
from
saying anything negative.
However
it does raise an important point in the preparation you
need to do. Know your
strengths but job related and personality
related.
These should be part of a 3-4 sentence personal
summary
statement which summarises why you should get the
job.
‘I
cannot comment on the other candidates and their abilities. All I
know
is I have these qualities both job related and behavioural
(then
list them with examples).’
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.13 If
I said for example another candidate had more experience
than you how would you react?
A. A less ridiculous comparison question. However
still don’t be
drawn
on making comparisons. It is important to show your
application
in the best most positive light not discuss other
fictitious
candidates
‘There
is little to be gained from me trying to compare myself with
other
candidates.
All
I know is I have these qualities both job related and
behavioural
(then list them with relevant examples).’
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.14 I
see from your resume that you have never actually been in
this role in any of your previous companies. How are you going to
manage?
A. Firstly this is an obvious weakness. Weakness
means risk to
an
employer and they are looking for re-assurance that you will
adapt
to the new environment.
Relate
your previous experience to similar situations where you
moved
departments and had a new role or were faced with new
technology
which you had to learn quickly. Turn this into a
positive
about ‘how you are able to adapt to changing
circumstances
and have a flexible approach. How you pick up
new
skills quickly. How you enjoy the challenge of the ever
changing
technology’.
Try
to broaden the answer by saying ‘we are all faced with a fast
moving
and changing environment which constantly presents new
challenges.
I have always been able to rise to these and perform
effectively
despite tight deadlines and little support’.
Importantly,
then go on to list examples of similar experiences
where
you have demonstrated such skills. This should close the
issue
in the interviewers mind and paint a positive picture.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. 15 What
would you do if you failed to meet your sales target?
A. Don’t be drawn on a specific answer. Sidestep
the question.
‘’I
will be giving my very best efforts to ensure this scenario never
occurs.
Throughout my career I have prided myself on my sales
achievements
to date and see no reason for me failing in the
future’’
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.16 Are
you going to be the best salesman in the company?
A. Another odd question that sometimes gets asked
just to see
the
reaction it causes.
‘‘That
is a goal which I will be working very hard to achieve.
However
I am primary focused on ensuring I exceed my own
sales
targets, I am not necessarily looking at the success of other
salesmen
but am sure of my ability to compete with the best
salesmen
in the company’’
Take
the opportunity to talk about your previous successes. It
backs
up your argument and paints a picture of success.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.17 Are you going to be ambitious to succeed in the role?
A. Over ambition suggest that you will not stay in
the role too long
before
looking to move onwards and upwards. Under ambition
suggests
you are lacking enthusiasm or drive. 'This is a fantastic
opportunity
for me. If offered the role I am ambitious to succeed
and
look forward to performing to the best of my ability with drive
and
enthusiasm.’
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.18 Where
do you see yourself in the next 5 or 10 years?
A. Answer needs to show ambition but also a
commitment to the
role
on offer. This is a difficult juggling act where a very neutral
answer
is most appropriate. ‘My first goal is to secure this role
and
I am ambitious to succeed in it. I am not really looking beyond
this.
I suppose if pressed I would be looking for career
progression
like anyone else but 5-10 years is a long time away
and
I am sure I have many challenges ahead in the current role.
That
is a difficult question that would need some thought’. You are
unlikely
to get pressed further in explaining yourself.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.19 What do
you think the organisation will expect from you in
terms of responsibilities?
A. The interviewer is looking for personal skills.
Hard work,
enthusiasm,
professionalism, passion, honesty. Additionally you
can
express your enthusiasm for the companies products and
services
and comment on how you see your responsibilities as
adding
value or increasing sales/profits/turnover. Of course your
answer
will need to be tailored to the situation.
Close
your answer by asking the interviewer if that was what they
were
expecting or asking what they feel the main responsibilities
are apart from those listed on the job description.
Q. 20 You
seem to be a bit young for this job.
A. If the interviewer really thought you were too
young then they
wouldn’t
be interviewing you. However they may have concerns
even
though they think you have something to offer. You will
again
need to fall back on your personal skills and experience.
Explain
what you bring to the role? As for your age politely
disagree
with the interviewer that although you are younger than
other
candidates it does not mean you do not have the necessary
skills.
After all it is up to them to decide.
Turn
the question round and say youth is an advantage as you
are
open to fresh ideas, probably have more energy and ambition
and
are likely to be more satisfied in the role. On most occasions
it
is the personality traits such as enthusiasm drive, team work
and
professionalism that will override experience. Of course a
good
combination of both is ideal! Play on these traits if your
experience
is lacking.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. 21 You
seem to be over qualified for this position. Are you going to find the role a
bit demeaning?
A. This is a complement. Your skills are highly
regarded and the
interview
is going particularly well. A good trick is to smile, confirm
this
is a good thing and ask the interviewer to clarify why they are
thinking.
This gives you some time to compose yourself and also
to set the
interviewers concerns in context.
The
interviewer will probably say you could get bored, you might
not
be challenged enough and look to move roles quickly if you
get
a better offer. This is a concern for you. The way to convince
the
interviewer is to express your desire to work for the company.
The
more you have taken the trouble to understand the company
its
product ranges and shown enthusiasm for joining them the
more
convincing you will be.
You
will want to focus on the challenges the company will offer
you
and how they will provide a rewarding career for you. This
can
mark a changing point in the interview. The interviewer is
saying
that effectively you are an excellent candidate more than
capable
of doing the job. Your focus now is on convincing them
that
you see the company as your next major career step.
If
you can additionally add that you do have other options for your
career
and this role is still your first choice then so much the
better.
It reinforces what you are saying.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.22 You
have been working as a temp as so many different
places. Why is this?
A. The implication is that you do not fit in or
get bored easily. Turn
the
answer round. Talk about this being a deliberate plan. List the
wide
range of experiences you have gained working for different
companies.
They all have different methods of working. Note the
fact
that you are able to adapt to a new working environment
easily and learn new
methods of working. You are therefore
flexible
and adaptable. Back this up by referring to your
references
from these employers and saying how pleased they
were
with the work you had performed. This gives you another
chance
to cement your skills and abilities and all round strong
candidacy
to the interviewer.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. 23 If you
had to pick one quality you had what would be the best
one?
A. It is difficult to pick one but it would have
to be my honesty or
integrity.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.24 What
would your job references say about you?
A. Try to make sure that any job references have
been sought
and
written before you go interviewing. This is not always
possible.
Where
you do have job references then you can say you have
references
and they are very complimentary around a number of
aspects
of your work.
It
is not a problem if you don’t have references and the question
implies
that you would probably imagine what they would say.
Effectively the
interviewer is therefore asking to list your
strengths.
Take the time to list your job strengths and behavioural
qualities.
Start the sentence in the 3rd party with……’My
references
would say….’
Any
time you are able to reply in the 3rd party it sounds like
someone
else is endorsing your candidacy which in effect
references
do.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.25 Did
you have the best sales figure in your organisation last
year?
A. If you did say so. This of course would be a
great selling point
for
you, however if your sales figures were not the best look for
positives.
‘I
met all my targets in a tough economic environment’ ‘I
exceeded
the tough targets that were set’ ‘Nationally I wasn’t the
number
one….but I was for my region’
If
you are a salesman then this will be a key area of interest.
Make
sure you have every detail of the sales memorised and a
list
of positive achievements. If you do not then how can you
expect
to get the job if you have a poor track record?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.26 What
is the most innovative idea you have come up with at
work?
A. Quite a tricky question unless you are
prepared. You need
follow
the Situation, Task, Action, Results (STAR) method of
describing
what you did. Make sure there is a perceived benefit
firmly
stated at the end. Here is an example.
‘’About
6 months ago we had an important sales meeting
arranged.
An hour before the meeting was due to take place in
our
only meeting room the room got flooded and was out of
action.
No time to cancel or any further office space in our
building.
I knew the building across the street have meeting
rooms.
I went across and asked them and they agreed to lend us
a
room. In fact they set the room up for us and laid on
refreshments.
The
sales meeting went ahead on time and was a great success
and
the customer was impressed with our ingenuity.’’
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.27 What
could you have done better to achieve more sales?
A. Oh dear, a very pointed negative question. You
need to stay
clear
of giving a direct answer. If you suggest there were
improvements
to be made this implies you weren’t working at
100%.
Of course it will depend on your particular circumstances
but
for a generic answer try this.
‘’I
was very pleased with the level of sales I made. All the senior
management
were also delighted with the level of sales I
achieved especially in
the tough economic environment. I
exceeded
my targets and made a solid contribution to the overall
profitability
of the company.’’
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.28 How
long have you been looking for a new job?
A. This is more important if you are currently out
of work. If you
have
been looking for several months then you need to
emphasise
that you have been looking for the right role. You do
not
want to rush into the first job that is offered. ‘’Work is very
important
to me and I am not going to rush such a decision lightly.
That
is why I have waited for a role such as this one to become
available.’’
If
you have been offered jobs in this time and turned them down
then
mention it. Effectively this is an endorsement from another
employer
that you are worth hiring.
If
market conditions are tough and there are plenty of candidates
then
mention this too. What you want to avoid is the interviewer
thinking
that you have been out of work for months have applied
everywhere
and been turned down far too often for this to be just
a
coincidence. No-one wants to hire someone if they are
unwanted
by every other employer. A long gap is a series
weakness
which needs to be handled carefully.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.29 What
if I said to you your resume was very poor?
A. This is the type of question where the
interviewer is looking for
a
quick thinking answer. Of course your resume isn’t poor
otherwise
you wouldn’t have an interview! Push the question back
without
disagreeing with the interviewer. In this question the
interviewer
is criticising the layout of the resume not the content. If
the
experience on it was poor then you would not have an
interview!
‘’I
have had several colleagues review my resume and they all
offered
suggestions which I have accepted. I would therefore be
surprised
to find it was poor but I always welcome constructive
feedback
whether it is good or bad.’’
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.30 Have
you been to many interviews recently?
A. The answer you of course want to avoid is ‘Yes,
and I have not
been
considered suitably qualified for any of them’. Ideally you
want
to be able to say this is the first role you have applied for as
it
has so much to offer and although there have been other
opportunities
at other companies this is by far the most appealing
for
a number of reasons. If you were offered the job and turned it
down
then this is also like an endorsement on your abilities.
It
is important not to give the impression that you have been to a
number
of interviews and failed. If this is the case then gloss over
this.
The interviewer will clearly have no knowledge of your
interview history
unless it is with the same organisation.
Best
thing is to avoid the question by replying in more general
terms.
‘’I
have been looking for interview opportunities for a while as I
wish
to challenge myself and further my career. This is the first
job
opportunity I have spotted for some time where I was truly
excited
at the prospects of securing the position and working
within
such an organisation.’
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.31 We
like all our employees to be comfortable with public
speaking. Have you done any presentation in the past?
A. Public speaking is worse than death in some
people’s eyes.
However
you just have to agree that you are comfortable with it
and
that you have done presentations before. If they have asked
the
question then you know they are keen for all employees to
have
this skill. The underlying thought here is that they are
looking
for leaders, people who are confident in standing up in
front
of a group who can command an audience. This question
betrays
the type of person the interviewer is really looking for.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.32 Do
you prefer the regular framework with established
processes and procedures of an organisation or are you more
adept at the
‘get on with it as best you can?
A. As with a lot of questions there is no right
answer here. It is
safe
to go down the lines with this answer
‘‘Every
organisation needs a contextual framework of processes
and
procedures which everyone can recognise and understand. It
allows
for a consistent approach. Although generally speaking
these
should not be over-ruled there are occasions where a
flexible,
dynamic and more liberal approach is required in order to
achieve
targets. A mixture of the two is probably healthy for any
organisation
and is the way I have worked in my previous roles.’’
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.33 What
was your salary in your last job?
A. Don’t be tempted to lie they will find out if
need be. Ideally the
salary
will be 10-20% lower than the role you are going for?
If
it is lower than this range then you need to add in the benefits of
overtime,
car, health insurance etc. and refer to the salary as the
package.
If the salary is too low then the interviewer will feel this
indicates
you are over playing your experience and position.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.34 What
salary are you looking for?
A. Crucially don’t be tempted to dive in with a
figure. Firstly you
do
not have a job offer. If you say a number that is too low you
cannot change your
mind later. If it is too high you may just blow
your
chances there and then.
Golden
rule is wait to you have a concrete offer, let the employer
offer
a salary first then negotiate upwards.
Your
answer should sidestep the issue……
‘Well
I have an idea but I would rather wait until I had a concrete
job
offer. Also the whole benefits package will be important not
just
the salary in isolation.’’
If
the employer persists bat the question back.........'What would
you
expect I was worth within your organisation?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.35 What
particular skills are you looking to gain from this role?
A. This will depend on the type of job. If the job
is a manual job or
skilled
profession then you will be looking for practical experience.
If
the job is more office based or sales related then the emphasis
will
be different. Understand what the job description is telling you
about
the job because there is no point saying you want to learn
‘x’
if it is not possible in this role.
You
could use this as an opportunity to dig deeper into the roles
and
responsibilities that you need to undertake. The interviewer
will
of course be delighted that you are interested and it gives you
time
to form an answer. Failing that you can fall back on the old
favourites of
enhancing your existing personal skill set. You
should
have these listed as part of your personal summary
statement.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.36 Why
have you had so many short term assignments in the
past?
A. Of course the implication is you either become
bored easily
staying
in one place for too long or get fired! You need to reduce
to
the risk to the employer of hiring you by ensuring you give a
valid
reason.
‘The
reason I have had so many temporary roles is that I wanted
to
experience different working practices for different
organisations.
I believe that the next career move that I make is
vitally
important to my long term future and I want to make the
correct
decision. Your organisation fits my profile of what I am
looking
for in an organisation and the possibilities for career
advancement.
I
also need toad that I can provide good references from each of
these
companies even though I was there for a relatively short
period
of time’
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.37 What
was your typical day like in your last job?
A. Another open question with an easy chance to
shine….It was
always
busy, lots of pressure and close deadlines and targets to
meet.
Often meant long hours and commitment to work endlessly
until
the job was done etc. Plenty of scope for signing your own
praises.
It is worth adding that your line manger always
recognised
the contribution you made and you received bonuses /
awards
for your efforts.
Anything
where you can paint a picture of an enthusiastic, hardworking,
dedicated,
talented, tem player will do your application
no
harm.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.38 How
does this role compare to your current role?
A. You don’t necessarily know what the current
role involves, but
you
can explain your current role listing the activities,
responsibility
and the targets that you tried to achieve. Additional
information
about the departmental structure may help.
Importantly
you then need to ask the interviewer if this is similar to
the
role on offer. At this point you might have to start thinking on
your
feet!
If
the 2 roles are not completely similar then get the interviewer to
explain
the differences. This buys you some valuable thinking
time!
If
there are differences then you need to address these. Without
this
the interviewer may think there are some gaps in your
experience. Do not
move the conversation on until all the potential
differences
in the roles have been addressed in a satisfactory
way.
If you have not done something then show how you have in
the
past done a similar role. Although no 2 roles will never be
identical
the generic characteristics of a role should be closely
matched.
You need to leave no doubt that you can ‘do the job
well’.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.39 Do
you feel your career stagnated in your last job? This is a
tricky, negative question which needs to be avoided. Do not start
our answer with the word ‘No’. You need to be consistent with all
the questions as to why you are thinking of moving jobs. This is
just another way of phrasing the same question.
A. The position was a very rewarding one which
allowed me the
freedom,
responsibility and challenges which were suitable at the
time.
However if I stay at the same employer I may find the
opportunities
for advancement in terms of challenges, salary and
career
may be limited. Also it may be restrictive in the amount of
new
experience I may gain from staying in the same role.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.40 Why
do you want to leave your current job?
A. Negative connotation and expectancy that you
will say
something
negative about ex-employer or ex-employee. Resist
the
temptation and keep the answer upbeat concentrating on the
advantages of what the
new job would offer. You could mention
the
increased salary but do not dwell on it. Emphasise the other
advantages
first.
I enjoy
my previous job and as I have demonstrated make a solid
contribution
which is appreciated. However I am looking for more
experience,
a greater challenge / increased responsibility / more
dynamic
organisation that this role offers.
Make
sure you have a list of reasons for joining this company.
You
need to reply using one or a combination of the following five
replies:
Challenge: You need a new
career challenge
Travelling: The commute to work
was taking too long or I was
constantly
being asked to travel with work
Career: I had reached the
likely top and there was no room for
advancement
until someone else above me left.
Money: You feel you were not being paid what you
were worth
(this
can be a dangerous reason as it makes you look greedy and
selfish
even if you are not)
Security: The organisation was
unstable and my role may have
been
at risk
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.41 How
did you deal with difficult employees?
A. A common question which relies on you having some
concrete
answers
pre-prepared for the interview. There isn’t much point insaying that you didn’t
have any. Maybe you didn’t but it then shows you have no experience in this
area. So you need to recall
a
situation where there was conflict, however trivial.
Firstly
keep it upbeat. ‘Fortunately I didn’t have many difficulties
we
have a great team spirit.’
‘’On
this one occasion I remember there were 2 employees who
just
didn’t get along on the team. I interviewed them both
separately
to get to the bottom of the issues. Eventually the
reason
turned out to be personal. I offered one person the
opportunity
to be transferred to a different department. HR were
kept
informed all the way. In the end I mediated between them
and
they both agreed not to let it interfere with their working
relationship.
‘Always finish with a successful resolution to the
problem.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.42 In
what way does your previous role prepare you for taking
greater levels of responsibility?
A. Ideally you want to show a scenario where you
have been in
the
position of assuming the greater responsibility. For example
you
may have deputised for your boss while they were away.
Comment
on how things went well and how you boss commented
on this.
3rd party endorsements are always good. In this way you
are
assimilating your position with what might happen and you
have
already had a taste of the expected level of responsibility.
Complete your summing
up by saying you enjoyed the
responsibility
although it was challenging.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.43 What
did you not like about your last employer?
A. OK, so the interviewer has asked you to say
something
negative
about your employer. You need to turn this round so that
it
makes it sound like the negative is in fact a positive!
I
used to get a bit annoyed when I noticed inefficiencies in the
processing
workflows and controls. A number of times I made
suggestions
as to improvements that could be made which would
have
saved money but the ideas were effectively ignored.
A. I always tried my upmost to make sure that all
customers were
treated
fairly and honestly but I noticed a malaise creeping in
which
meant that some staff didn’t always try their best to meet
the
exacting standards required. I feel this reflected badly on
everyone.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.44 What
did you think of your last supervisor?
A. More of a personal question but again emphasise
the
positives.
How your supervisor delegated responsibility to you.
Recognised
your achievements and encouraged you. Add in
examples
of how your supervisor noticed these successes to
reinforce the image of
someone who achieved success.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.45 What
do you dislike about your current supervisor?
A. The interviewer is probing for signs of
antipathy. Don’t fall for
the
bait. Remember no criticising of other people. Keep it upbeat
with
some positive example of trust and responsibility.
“I
am fortunate, my supervisor and me have a great working
relationship.
He trusts me fully to deputise when they are away.
We
have a great one to one relationship which allows me to air
my
views freely. One of the things I will miss in a new role is the
level
of trust that currently exists between us.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.46 Would
you have liked to have your supervisor’s job?
A. “Yes, I am fortunate that I have a great
supervisor where we
work
well together. He has let me deputise for him a number of
times
and I enjoyed the challenge and increased responsibility
that
came with it.’’
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.47 What
cost savings did you make in your last role?
A. This is a vague question with a number of
different
approaches. Was your
role to make costs savings? If it wasn’t
then
say so. But you need to make this clear. You cannot
however
just leave the answer there, it sounds a bit abrupt. Take
the
chance to shine!
Say
you did make cost savings through inefficiencies that you
noticed
in some of the working practices/processes. Although it
wasn’t
part of your job you took it upon yourself to drive these
through
and it was recognised by my supervisor or senior
manager
that this saved time and money (be specific). You do of
course
need to back this up with examples.
A. If your role was to make cost savings then
state them explicitly.
If
they exceeded the targeted savings then state this too. Explain
how
you made the costs savings and over what period of time
these
happened. The employer wants to know what is in it for
them.
By demonstrating these very tangible achievements you
are
in a much stronger position. Again, you need to have
rehearsed
this answer and know exactly what to say. If you are
not
asked this question you need to weave the answer into some
part
of the interview as it is a great selling point.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.48 What
cost saving do you think you could bring to this role?
A. This is a tricky question to answer as you have
no familiarity
wit
the role. However it is a great opportunity to discuss some of
the
cost savings you made in your previous role and let the
interviewer
make the obvious leap of faith. It is also worth adding
in any savings in time
which effectively is a cost saving.
‘I
cannot comment on this role because I would need to take a
detailed
look at the particular process and procedures in place.
However
in my previous role I was able to save considerable time
and
money. Here you need to give quantified examples. Use the
STAR
method of Situation, Task, Action taken and Results. Here
is
an example…..
‘I
noticed the vehicles we used in the sales force were costing us
an
awful lot of money in maintenance costs and were off the road
for
longer than I thought was reasonable. I spent some time
investigating
and discovered that one small garage had the
contract
for the whole vehicle fleet. They clearly could not cope
with
the work and I believe were over charging.
I
took it upon myself to get several tenders for the work. The
result
is I have introduced a system where we do not use just one
garage
but several. This keeps the suppliers competitive and the
vehicles
are turned round much quicker, in fact a 20% reduction
in
times taken to maintain a vehicle. There has also been a cost
saving
of 15% in the actual maintenance costs.’’
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.49 When
have you faced a difficult problem and how did you
provide a successful resolution to it?
A. To answer this you need to have a pre-prepared
answer which
fits
the STAR model. Situation, Task, Action, Result. Demonstrate
that you noticed the
problem before it became a huge issue and
pro-actively
dealt with it. For example.
Situation:
I had a difficult employee who appeared not to want to
work
on my team.
Task:
Confronted employer to find out what the problem was
Action:
One to one meeting to find out problem, which was they
did
not like a work colleague (for whatever reason).
Result:
Moved individual to a different team / different desk. I proactively
resolved
their differences.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.50 Without
naming names who has been the most difficult
employee to work with and what have you learned from it?
A. Try to stay upbeat to a very negative question.
Employ the 3rd
party
viewpoint role where the conflict was happening elsewhere.
‘I
have been fortunate with the colleagues I have worked with and
who
I have supervised. I have never had any serious falling out
with
any of them I seem to be able to work well with most people.
I
have seen situations where there has been conflict and serious
disagreement
with other colleagues. As a 3rd party outsider it
does
appear that patience, respect and the understanding of
other
peoples opinions and values is important to good relations.’’
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.51 Show
examples of how you engaged and worked well in the
team environment.
A
blatant opportunity to shine and offer solid examples of how you worked well in
a team environment. These should be preprepared
examples
as team working is one of the key
characteristics
that an employee should demonstrate at an
interview.
“It
was/is a great team atmosphere at organisation x. We all get
along
well and regularly have team meetings to share ideas and
improve
the way we work. Here are some examples…’
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.52 When
was the last time someone criticised your work? This is
a similar question but this time the assumption is you’re your work
is criticised so you have flaws. Don’t fall for this obvious trap.
A. “I am not aware of any occasions where my work
has been
criticised.
There have been occasions in team meetings where my
IDEAS
have been criticised or rejected. It is all part of the learning
process
and coming to the correct decision. I don’t take it
personally
as we always get a positive end result.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.53 (To
woman) Are you planning on having children?
A. Illegal question. Treat it as such and don’t
answer it except
with
a bland rebuttal.
‘’My
career is important to me and I will be committed to this role if
I
am offered it. Having children is not something I am currently contemplating.’’
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.54 What
age / religion / sexual orientation are you?
A. Illegal question again!.….does this interviewer
want to face a
lawsuit?
You
do not have to answer this, however most people would be
comfortable
answering these questions. If you choose to answer
them
be honest and be proud of who you are.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.55 What
do you understand by the term customer service?
A. Whenever you are in a role where you are
dealing with
customers
the way you handle this relationship is going to be an
important
selling point in the interview. Customer service is two
fold.
Firstly respect the customer for who they are. Secondly
make
sure they go away satisfied that they have had any issues
resolved.
This question will inevitably lead on to further questions
around
your involvement with the customers.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.56 Give
me an example of a situation where you had to deal with
a difficult
customer.
A. You should have a whole heap of these types of
answers if you
have
been working in this type of environment. The key thing is to
give
an example where you solved the problem of the customer to
everybody’s
satisfaction and they went away happy.
For
example
‘’We
had a customer who came in the other week saying that his
new
computer was not working correctly and he was furious at
having
to come back to the shop to complain. I apologised for the
inconvenience
and sat him down at a similar machine and
replicated
his problem.
It
turns out he had not read the instructions correctly and was a
little
embarrassed to say the least. However I tried not to make
him
feel awkward. I ran through the complete set up and
highlighted
some areas where he may face difficulties which
aren’t
necessarily clear in the instructions. I gave him my direct
phone
number in case he had any further difficulties when he got
home.
He went home completely satisfied and apologised’’
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.57 Give
me an example of where a dissatisfied customer
complained and it was your fault.
A. Negative question. You need to avoid dwelling
on anything
negative
but in this instance you cannot avoid the inevitable that
everyone
who deals with customers will make mistakes and need
to
apologise. Try to keep the example in the 3rd party context eg.
someone
else made the mistake but you had to sort it out. For example: ‘’Recently had a
customer come in to complain that we
had
over charged him for an item. It turns out the bar code reader
was
issuing the wrong price. I apologised on behalf of the store
and
of course refunded him the money. In such circumstances I
like
to go that bit further and gave the customer a money-off
voucher
for the next time he visited. He went away happy and I
have
seen him in the store on numerous occasions since’’.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.58 What
has been your greatest achievement to date?
A. This can be harder than it sounds, because
unless it really was
a
great achievement it may come across as being a bit weak. A
pre-rehearsed
answer is important. However you will have
prepared
these as examples to demonstrate particular aspects of
your
work for example when you saved costs, increased sales,
reduced
headcount without affecting turnover, introduced a leaner
process
resulting in increased time to market.
The
examples need to follow the STAR formula.
S -
Situation
T -
Task
A –
Action
R –
Results
S –
Costs were running way over budget
T –
To reduce costs and still bring the project in on time
A –
RE-planned whole project and re-allocated resources
R – Project came in on
time and on budget.
S –
New software introduced and no one was trained in it
T –
To train everyone in short period of time
A –
Worked longer hours to train myself. Became super-user and
organised
training program for all departmental staff with me
doing
the training
R –
All staff trained and no down time in system processing while
moving
to utilising new software.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.59 What
is your greatest weakness?
A. This is such a popular question and can be
asked in a number
of
different ways. Don’t say you haven’t any as this will be
deemed
arrogant. However keep the answer away from specific
weaknesses
that have not already been discussed or offer a
weakness
that all the candidates are likely to have.
“I
do find that with the ever changing technological environment I
would
like to have a better understanding of this area. I am
addressing
this by studying ‘x’, attending course ‘y’ and
subscribing
to publication ‘z’……..
A. I like everything to be perfect when sometimes
that level of
detail
is unnecessary. I use my own time to work late to do this so
that
the company doesn’t suffer.
A. It has been known for me to leave unpleasant
tasks closer to
the deadline than is
necessary. I am making a conscious effort to
deal
with unpleasant tasks as soon as they arise. However I have
noticed
that the additional thinking time has allowed me to make a
more
informed judgement.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.60 How
do you deal with stress?
A. “Actually it doesn’t really affect me very
much. I enjoy the
dynamic
atmosphere of the workplace. However there are often
stressful
situations which I need to deal with and of course they
create
pressure on time and resources. Firstly I try to avoid
stressful
situations by making sure I plan my work effectively. I
have
a detailed plan of activities and resources which enable me
to
plan my work very well avoiding and constraints or
bottlenecks.(demonstrate
you are calm in such situations and
deal
with the stresses methodically and effectively)
On
the occasions where stressful situations arise I always try to
have
a controlled response.
I
take this 5 step approach….
a)
What is the problem
b)
What do I need to do
c)
What are my options
d)
What are the consequences of my options
e)
Take action and resolve the problem
For
example I recently had an irate customer who had been let
down
by a colleague. They were a major client. They were out of the office and I was
tasked with dealing with them. I firstly
apologised
because their order was late. I then assured them that
I
would take responsibility for the problem and do everything to
ensure
the issue was resolved immediately. This calmed them
down
a lot! Further discussions on what they were missing quickly
allowed
me to realise that their order could be supplied from
existing
stock in the warehouse. There was no need for a special
order
and the customer got their stock the same day..I followed
up
with the customer the following day to make sure they were
completely
happy with the outcome. They were and my line
manager
praised me for the calm way I dealt with the situation.
Additionally
to relieve any tension I go to the gym on a regular
basis
which helps keep me in good shape.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.61 How
would you deal with tension between two other
colleagues in you team?
A. If it was affecting the team as a whole I would
quietly mention
what
I was observing to my supervisor. They are in the proper
position
and level of authority to deal with it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.62 How
do you deal with rejection?
A. This is a tricky one. Again the interviewer is
probing for
weaknesses.
It is a fairly open ended unspecific question which
allows
you to easily trap yourself. Keep the answer generic where an idea was rejected
and not you or your work. Demonstrate how
you
receive rejection quite often but that it is all part of the role
you
have.
“During
team meetings we are always banding ideas about and
inevitably
some of my ideas are discussed and rejected. It is all
part
of the learning process and coming to the correct decision. I
don’t
take it personally as we always get a positive end result.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.63 What
do you expect your starting salary to be?
A. This is a difficult question and salary
questions should not
necessarily
be aired at interviews but only after you have received
a
job offer. However it is a sign that you are being considered
seriously.
You
may not be completely in the picture as to all the facts and
the
roles and responsibilities of the job. How many people report
to
you, are you on callout, how many hours you are expected to
work.
A good tactic is to ask back what the interviewer has in
mind.
Then if they say something just agree that this is the correct
ball
park figure.
If
you are put on the spot it is important to give a range for
example
$50-$55,000. This leaves room for negotiation on both
sides.
Q.64 Why
are your grades on the low side?
A. Turn the negative into a positive. If there is
an obvious
weakness
make sure you have a good explanation which can
demonstrate
a positive trait.
“Yes,
my grades are perhaps lower than other candidates, but I
had
to fund my own education by working 40 hours a week for 3
years’.
So given the circumstances personally I am proud of the
grades
I achieved.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.65 How
do you think your degree will help you in this job?
A. If the degree is strictly relevant then no
problem. Detail the
educational
aspects of your degree and how you believe they
assimilate.
Don’t forget you are unlikely to know precisely what
role
you will be playing in the job so keep the answer high level. If
your
degree is in an unrelated subject you need to base your
answer
on the broader advantages of a good education. Talk
about
how you maybe had to work to get through college the
sacrifices
you made and the determination to achieve your
degree.
If it was a particularly outstanding grade then highlight
this.
An
interview is just as much about your personality as your skills
and
experience. Clearly the interviewer has accepted the degree
is
in a non-relevant area but is looking for your attributes as a person to shine.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.66 I
see you have a degree do you feel over qualified and do you
think you will fit in?
A. The implication is that you will become bored
and leave quickly
when
you see something better. Take it as a complement.
“I
applied for this position because I believe it will be a great
opportunity
for me to gain good experience and I see myself
making
a strong contribution to the organisation. The fact that I
appear
to be over qualified will mean I can bring a high level of
knowledge
and aptitude to apply to the job. I wont get bored and
be
looking for a better position. I see this role as a good fit for my
skills
and ambitions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.67 Do
you believe the managerial role you held in the air force will
transfer well to the civilian world?
A. The interviewer is looking to see if you can
transfer seamlessly
and
adapt to the new environment. The fact that you have an
interview
means they think you should be able to.
List
your skills and attributes and closely match these to those
required
in the job description. The list will include
communication,
planning, budgeting, team building. The most important part is giving examples
using the Situation, Task,
Action,
Results formula and relate these results to how they would
be
similar to the issues you would have in a civilian organisation.
Just
because you have come from a different environment does
not
necessarily mean that you are at a disadvantage. Some skills
that
team building and management may be more honed than if
you
purely worked in civilian organisations. Point this out.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.68 What
is your ideal assignment?
A. ‘‘There are a number of possibilities but I
always relish a
challenge
so one where I could stretch myself and my abilities to
their
full extent.’’
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.69 Have
you ever been fired?
A. Safest just to deny this. It is a very pointed
question which
requires
a firm rebuttal. Rarely does anyone ever get fired. They
may
be asked to leave in which case you do.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.70 Have
you ever resigned from a position?
A. You are unlikely to be asked this question. If
you are make
sure
it was for a very good reason and you can explain how it
came
about. You do not want to give the impression that you do such things lightly.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.71 Why
have you had so many different roles?
A. It can be difficult to convince someone that
you have not got
itchy
feet or you just don’t fit in. You need to split your answer
down
so that you cover each job and offer an explanation for each
one
and why you moved. This is where suitable preparation
comes
in. If you career path has had many roles you will almost
certainly
be asked this question.
You
obviously had genuine reasons for leaving each job. If these
do
not sound very professional or indicate poor traits of
commitment
then you need to be careful about what you say.
There
are a number of reasons you could use they broadly relate
to
the replies in the previous question. The important thing is to
close
your answer by convincing the interviewer that this role is
not
just another stepping stone to somewhere better.
‘I
want to settle down and start a family’
‘This
organisation will suit my needs for advancement and career
progression’
‘This
is the role I have been striving to achieve’
Whatever
you say make it sound natural and believable!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.72 Why
are you not earning more given your age and
experience?
This
is either a compliment or alternatively questioning whether
you
really have the stated skills and ability you say you have.
A. To date money has not always been the most
important aspect
of
my job. I really enjoy what I do because I am constantly
challenged
and enjoy the sense of achievement. Part of the
reason
for applying for this role is to address the money issue as I
agree
with you that I am worth a lot more. It is only recently that I
have
become aware of my actual worth in the marketplace. (You
could
then try to twist the question back to the interviewer) What
do
you think I should be earning given my skills and experience?
The
interviewer is hardly likely to blurt out a figure but they must
think
you are worth more than you are currently being paid.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.73 What
are the outstanding qualities that you can bring to this
job?
A. This is where your 3-4 sentence personal
statement summary
comes
to your rescue. It should also be used as your personal
profile
on your resume.
You
can recite this and in addition try to pick an example which
can
demonstrate your personal skills and how they would be
adapted
to your role. For example in a customer facing organisation. ‘I have often
needed to deal with difficult or upset
customers
who have been let down. My patience and
understanding
in dealing with such matters has been commented
on by my supervisor as
exemplary.’
Good Luck!
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