The Best Questions to Ask in the Interview
Some good topics to cover include: The company Dave Stanford, executive vice president of client services for contingency and contract staffing firm Winter, Wyman Companies suggests asking:
Why Do They Ask That in an Interview?
The company wants a team player and an independent worker
When you are asked whether you work better alone or in a team, what they really want to know is how you interact with others and how much direction you need when you're assigned to work by yourself.
If you use time alone well, are you able to keep your boss posted on your progress at reasonable intervals? Are you good at brainstorming in a group, the one who comes up with rapid-fire ideas? Or are you the person who is likely to mold them into a collaborative effort to find a solution for the challenge at hand? Either alone or in a team, you want to convey that you can interact well with co-workers at various levels of authority, but that you're a person who can be productive and come up with answers on your own as well.
Remember, an interview is a two-way street, and that's true where questions are concerned. Be sure to ask questions that show you have researched the company and that you're aware of current issues faced by the company and the industry it's in. You need to show an interest in the company if you want it to show an interest in you.
For years, people have been counseled to envelope their "weakness" in an answer that actually makes it sound like a strength. But job interviewers have heard them all, and those answers tend to sound hollow these days. Rather, choose a time when you had to face a significant challenge or adversity -- without getting too personal -- and tell how you overcame that dilemma and were improved by it. Tell what you learned and how that newfound knowledge benefited you as a professional. People who recognize their weaknesses and show they want to do better are showing a prospective employer they are willing to do their best, even if it means learning from mistakes.
Things to Tell an Interviewer
The best way to show these traits is to take the initiative and have several personal stories that you can tell, taking maybe 30 to 90 seconds each. You may want to start by developing your stories around these seven areas:
1. Times where you either made money or saved money for your current or previous company.
2. A crisis in your life or job and how you responded or recovered from it.
3. A time where you functioned as part of a team and what your contribution was.
4. A time in your career or job where you had to overcome stress.
5. A time in your job where you provided successful leadership or a sense of direction.
6. A failure that occurred in your job and how you overcame it.
7. Any seminal events that happened during your career to cause you to change direction and how that worked out for you. I want to emphasize that an interview should not be an interrogation. It should be a conversation between two equals. When you accomplish this you come away a step closer to your goal of landing the job you really want, because... It's the conversation that wins an interview, and it's the conversation that wins the job. To have a conversation, have your stories ready.
Worst-Case Interview Scenarios
Here are some suggestions on how to handle unforeseen interview mishaps.
You Forgot Your Résumé Materials.
You grabbed your briefcase, but left your portfolio stuffed with your beautifully printed résumés, letters of recommendation and work examples sitting on your kitchen table.
Solution: "This can be easily handled if you planned ahead properly," Guarneri suggests. "Don't rely on just a paper résumé. Have your résumé available online somewhere, such as a blog, personal Web site or in your e-mail. Then it can be instantly retrieved from the interviewer's office."
You Have a Wardrobe Malfunction.
Somewhere between your house and the interviewer's office your smartly pressed suit ends up looking stupid. This happened to one of Guarneri's clients who was splashed by a passing cab right outside the building of the company with which he was going to interview.
Solution: Guarneri recommends continuing to your interview and briefly explaining what happened. Almost everyone has had a wardrobe malfunction occur at an inopportune time -- your interviewer will likely be empathetic to your mud speckled trousers.
You're Late.
Whether you overslept or your train stalled on the tracks, either way, you know you're going to be late for your interview.
Solution: "If you can see you're going to be late, immediately call ahead and let them know," Guarneri advises. That way you won't keep your interviewer waiting and you give them the chance to call the shots -- squeeze you in for a later appointment or reschedule for another day.
The Interviewer is Distracted.
Another of Guarneri's clients entered an interview only to find the interviewer sitting with his head in his hands and didn't even look up when her client entered the room and sat down.
Solution: If they're not listening when you're talking, are they bored? Are they stressed with other projects?
"Pick up on the emotional cues the interviewer is delivering," Guarneri says. "Then recognize the situation and get their attention." In this case, her client said, "If this is a really bad time, I can come back."
You Forget the Name of the Person You're Interviewing With.
You're nervous during an interview and it's common for your mind to go blank.
Solution: If you didn't write it down on, don't see a nameplate on the desk, or can't read it off of certificates adorning the walls, don't fake it, Guarneri warns. Find an opportune time to ask the interviewer for his or her business card, by saying something like, "Before I forget, could have one of your business cards?"
What will do if the employer ask for credit report?
I have answered many help wanted ads and have gotten very little response. Some of the responses are questions regarding my credit score. Is this something new? I did talk to a friend of mine and she told me her previous employer asked before continuing the application/interview process. I don't feel that that has any bearing on my qualifications, experience and education. Is it legal for employers to ask this information of people applying for work?
Alas, it's entirely legal for a prospective employer to request your credit report. But they can't do that without your explicit permission.
If you refuse to give the hiring manager authority to pull your report because there's stuff on it you don't want them to see, or you just think it's an invasion of privacy, you have every right to do that.
Unfortunately, the employer also has every right not to give you a job.
If you do agree to let them see the report, and they base their decision not to hire you on something in it, you have the right under the Fair Credit Reporting Act to see it, says EFL's Meschke. This will give you an opportunity to try to explain or rectify any issues or errors that may be on there.
The best thing to do is to get a copy of your credit report right now and make sure there's nothing on it that could derail your chances of landing a gig.
Under the Act, the credit reporting firms – TransUnion, Equifax and Experian – are required to give you a copy of your report for free once a year.
Also, if you do have stuff on there that may make an employer nervous, tell them upfront so there are no surprises when they see it, says Tim Mohr, a certified fraud examiner and partner with BDO Consulting.
Top 5 Ways to Wreck Your Job Interview
1. Being rude to the receptionist or assistant
Some candidates don't think it matters if they're dismissive of the hiring manager's assistant when arranging the interview or get upset at the receptionist because he or she mispronounced their name by mistake. After all, this person isn't the one making the hiring decision. But you may be surprised to learn that six out of 10 executives polled by Robert Half said they consider their assistant's opinion important when evaluating potential new hires. So remember to be polite and respectful to everyone you interact with during the hiring process.
2. Acting like you're the only person there
Consider this scenario: After you've checked in for the interview, you make a quick phone call to give your friend a blow-by-blow description of last night's party, speaking so loudly that everyone in the office can't help but hear you. That's the wrong approach. It's better to sit patiently and peruse any company literature in the lobby. Doing so demonstrates common courtesy and can help you learn more about the firm and its needs.
3. Arriving late
Getting to an interview on time or, for that matter, a few minutes early is an easy way to impress a prospective employer. Arriving late is not only unprofessional, it also shows the hiring manager that you have little regard for his or her schedule. It also calls into question your ability to show up to work on time, one of the most basic aspects of any job. Plus, arriving late could cause you to miss the meeting altogether if the interviewer has another appointment.
4. Going into the interview unprepared
Far too many candidates fail to properly prepare for the interview, believing that they can "wing it" and still make a strong impression. The savviest job seekers spend time considering questions the hiring manager will likely ask, so they can answer confidently during the meeting. They also research the employer ahead of time so they can explain how their skills match the open position, and also highlight their true interest in the company and position.
5. Not asking questions
As the interview winds down, the hiring manager will likely ask if you have any questions. Your answer should be yes. But your questions should go beyond "How much does the position pay?" and "How many days of vacation can I expect?" Although compensation and benefits are important components of any job, broach these subjects only if the prospective employer has expressed serious interest in hiring you -- usually not until the second or third interview. More appropriate questions for a first interview include "What will my specific duties be?" "What are your top priorities for this position?" and "What does a typical day in this position look like?"
The Intimidating Interviewer
Your potential boss has just finished itemizing what your job would entail, and the list includes working a number of weekends and extensive overtime, as well as more administrative duties than you'd anticipated. While you appreciate the hiring manager's candor, you already know this isn't the place for you.
It's best to be honest: Tell the hiring manager that, based on his description of the job, you think you wouldn't be a good match for the position and thank him or her for meeting with you. The person will appreciate your honesty and that you didn't waste his or her time during the interview process.
While you can't completely prepare for what you'll encounter when you meet a hiring manager, you should consider the personality types you may meet during an interview. By applying your experiences and trusting your instincts, you'll be more likely to succeed -- and be asked back for another meeting.
