Sunday, January 25, 2009

How To Deliver Brilliant Interview Answers To Common Questions

By Edward Baker

Do you need to know the hidden method for securing top dog status in your interview? Deliver great content brilliantly to the common questions. If you can't handle the expected questions well - you are not in the game. Get a plan and execute it. Here follows 5 standard interview questions and strategies for answering them.

What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? Telling them your strengths is pretty straight forward, just keep them in line with what the job you're applying for requires. Most people get tripped up on their weaknesses. What you want do is be honest about your weaknesses, but put a positive spin on them. Example: "Spending too much time polishing my presentations has always been a weakness, that's why I set definite deadlines and stick to them."

Tell me about yourself. This is a tricky interview question for a lot of people. You don't want to sound egotistical, but you have to sell yourself. It's best to prepare a short statement in advance covering you're accomplishments and future goals. Then, memorize and rehearse your statement out loud either in front of a mirror or video camera. It's also a good idea to practice on a friend or spouse and get their feedback.

"Why are you looking to move from ...[your present company]?" Don't do what many candidates do in answering this style of interview question, which is to put down their current job or boss or company. You need to sell the idea that you are a team player and a positive person. Tell them the truth - what a concept. Tell them the story of how your career is progressing - but use the terms that allow you to sell yourself in the most positive light.

Describe a time when you handled ...[this problem]. This competency based interview style question is becoming increasingly common and you must be prepared for them. Select 2 or 3 examples of your work that you could use to sell a number of the required essential and desirable criteria through.

How would your coworkers describe you? This common interview question is best handled with examples. They can be exact quotes or paraphrased. Having a couple ready like "Ron, who I worked with at Fun inc. always said I was the most trustworthy person he had ever worked with." Statements like that are just as good as if Ron were there and made them himself.

Remember to stay positive, be honest and prepare examples in advance, and your answers to these common interview questions will set you apart from the crowd. - 16928

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