Interview Tips Interview Tips, Interview Questions and Answers

23Feb/110

Setting Up an Informational Interview

The first step is to identify people who have jobs that you find intriguing and inspiring. Be resourceful. Scour the Internet and read local newspapers and business publications. Tell your family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, former teachers and classmates about your interviewing endeavor and ask them for names of people with whom you should speak.

As you develop your list of potential contacts, send each person an introductory letter explaining your background, career goals, interests and what you hope to gain from the interview. Request 20 to 30 minutes of the person's time at their convenience. Be clear that you are seeking information only -- not a job. If the person is receptive to your request, ask for a face-to-face meeting at his or her workplace. While getting together for lunch or talking on the phone is fine, visiting the person's office will give you a better feel for the job.

16Feb/110

5 Interview Questions Decoded

What are your greatest strengths?

What they're really asking: How do you perceive your talents and abilities as a professional? Will you be an asset to our organization?

Tips: Sell yourself. If you don't promote your strengths, nobody else will. Prepare six or seven responses. Be "confidently humble."

Why are you interested in working here?

What they're really asking: How dedicated are you? Do you have a passion for this type of work?

Tips: Keep your answer simple and to the point. Stay away from such responses as, "Many of my friends have worked here." This response isn't very impressive.

Why should we hire you?

What they're really asking: Can you convince us you're "the one?" Can you sell your "product?"

Tips: Make a powerful statement about the value you'll bring to their organization. Toot your own horn, but be wary of sounding arrogant.

What are some of your hobbies?

What they're really asking: How well-rounded are you? What do you do outside of work that might transfer positively into the workplace?

Tips: Emphasize any hobbies or activities that may relate to the job. Help the interviewer learn more about you and perceive you as a person, rather than a job candidate. Therefore, don't just answer questions, respond to them.

Would you be willing to pursue an extra certificate or credential?

What they're really asking: How is your attitude? How flexible are you?

Tips: Tell the interviewer how important professional growth is to you. Understand that the person who will impress the interviewer the most is the one willing to do the extra work.

What were you hoping we'd ask today, but didn't?

What they're really asking: Is there anything special about yourself that you want us to know?

Tips: Consider this a "show and tell" opportunity. Use materials from your portfolio to convince them how valuable you'll be to their organization.

1Dec/100

Why did you leave your last job?

Don't say: "Gee, there were so many reasons I got out of that hellhole."
Instead: Take your time to answer this question, Dattner says. "If the interviewer thinks you are rushing through it, there's a problem."
Why: This is your chance to talk about your experience and your career goals. Don't badmouth a former boss or explain why you were just too good to stay at such a menial job. Instead, focus on what you learned in your previous position and how you are ready to use those skills in a new position. Detail the path you want your career to follow while illustrating how this job is right for you and how you're right for the company.

20Nov/100

Working with Dictionary Collections

Another very useful generic collection is the Dictionary, which works with key/value pairs. There is a non-generic collection, called a Hashtable that does the same thing, except that it operates on type object. However, as explained earlier in this lesson, you want to avoid the non-generic collections and use thier generic counterparts instead. The scenario I'll use for this example is that you have a list of Customers that you need to work with. It would be natural to keep track of these Customers via their CustomerID. The Dictionary example will work with instances of the following Customer class:

public class Customer
{
public Customer(int id, string name)
{
ID = id;
Name = name;
}

private int m_id;

public int ID
{
get { return m_id; }
set { m_id = value; }
}

private string m_name;

public string Name
{
get { return m_name; }
set { m_name = value; }
}
}

The Customer class above has a constructor to make it easier to initialize. It also exposes it's state via public properties. It isn't very sophisticated at this point, but that's okay because its only purpose is to help you learn how to use a Dictionary collection. The following example populates a Dictionary collection with Customer objects and then shows you how to extract entries from the Dictionary:

Dictionary customers = new Dictionary();

Customer cust1 = new Customer(1, "Cust 1");
Customer cust2 = new Customer(2, "Cust 2");
Customer cust3 = new Customer(3, "Cust 3");

customers.Add(cust1.ID, cust1);
customers.Add(cust2.ID, cust2);
customers.Add(cust3.ID, cust3);

foreach (KeyValuePair custKeyVal in customers)
{
Console.WriteLine(
"Customer ID: {0}, Name: {1}",
custKeyVal.Key,
custKeyVal.Value.Name);
}

4Nov/100

Don’t Forget to Say “Thanks” in an interview

Make it personal. If you discovered the hiring manager shares your passion for travel or mystery books, referring to this commonality could make your letter even more effective. Personalizing the note will remind him or her who you are and that you paid close attention during the interview.

Be specific. In your note, bring up points from the conversation you had with the hiring manager. For example, if a prospective employer stressed that the open position calls for knowledge of a particular software program, use the thank-you letter as an opportunity to remind the person that you've worked with the application on a range of projects.

Add an extra. Perhaps during the interview you mentioned an article you recently read that's relevant to the firm's business. Send it with your note, along with a brief explanation of why you thought your contact would be interested in the information. Indeed, whether it's a news article or a link to an interesting Web site, you'll make yourself more memorable by demonstrating that you've gone beyond the basics.

Allay concerns. A thank-note is your chance to address any concerns the hiring manger expressed, especially if you were unable to do so in the interview. Perhaps the interviewer was worried about your lack of industry experience, and during the interview you forgot to mention a temporary position you had in the sector. You can bring it up in your note, along with a few points about how that experience contributed to your knowledge or interest in the field.

13Sep/100

The Top in Salary Negotiations

Talking about money with a potential employer might feel a bit awkward, but coming to terms that leave both sides content is crucial. Below, experts offer suggestions on how to prepare for salary negotiations.

Candidates who land offers at the higher end of a salary range are ones who can demonstrate to an employer that they are worth the price. Some ways to do that include:

  • Quantifying experience. ("My client increased sales by 8 percent after implementing my marketing idea.")
  • Researching the company beforehand so that you can tailor information to its needs. ("I see the company is interested in becoming 'greener.' Here are some ways I might be of help.") 
  • Pointing out any extras that set you apart (advanced training, special certifications, knowledge of a second language, etc.). 

Ideally, both sides should have similar expectations regarding salary by the time an offer is issued. Yet sometimes there are surprises.

Finally, try to view negotiations as seeking a win-win situation for all involved. An employer with enough interest to go through all the stages leading up to an offer has already invested a fair amount of time and energy. The company may be just as eager as you to make things  work.

24Aug/100

Note, A Simple ‘Thank You’ Can Land the Job

Here are some tips to remember the next time you compose a thank-you note following an employment interview:

Don't lose hope.  Even if you doubt the interview went well, it's still wise to send a thank-you note.  For one thing, the hiring manager may have felt the interview was more successful than you did.  In addition, your display of courtesy and professionalism could work in your favor if you cross paths with the person again or another opening arises within the firm.


Send a handwritten note.  It's best to send a thank-you note within 24 hours of your interview.  Consider sending a quick e-mail message as soon as you return home in order to meet this "deadline."  But don't stop there.  Follow up with a letter sent through the regular mail.  Use high-quality stationery, and write the message by hand.  This personal touch is likely to impress the hiring manager and help you stand out from other candidates, as well as present you with another opportunity to explain why you're right for the job. 

Write more than one if necessary.  Many employers now involve multiple people in the hiring process to get a well-rounded view of applicants.  If you interviewed with more than one hiring manager, send a thank-you note to each person.  Address every letter to a specific individual, even if you have to do some research to uncover the spelling of someone's name or locate his or her contact information.  Also make sure the content of each letter differs, at least slightly; hiring managers often compare notes.

Make it specific.
  To give your letter a personal touch, bring up specifics points from the conversation you had with the hiring manager.  For example, if a prospective employer mentioned multiple times that the open position calls for strong knowledge of Microsoft Excel, use the thank-you note as an opportunity to remind the person that you've received a professional certification in this program.  Even an offhand remark can serve as good fodder.  If you discovered the hiring manager attended the same university as you, referencing this commonality could make for an interesting opening or close to your letter.


24Jun/100

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:

  • What do you see ahead for your company in the next five years?
  • How do you see the future for this industry?
  • What do you consider to be your firm's most important assets?
  • What can you tell me about your new product or plans for growth?
  • How do you rate your competition? The position's history Asking about why the position is vacant can provide insight into the company and the potential for advancement. According to Annie Stevens and Greg Gostanian, managing partners at executive and career development firm ClearRock, good questions include:
  • What happened to the last person who held this job?
  • What were the major strengths and weaknesses of the last person who held this job?
  • What types of skills do you NOT already have onboard that you're looking to fill with a new hire? The department Asking about your department's workers and role in the company can help you understand more about the company's culture and hierarchy. Stanford suggests asking:
  • What is the overall structure of the company and how does your department fit the structure?
  • What are the career paths in this department?
  • What have been the department's successes in the last couple of years?
  • How do you view your group/division/department? The job's responsibilities To avoid any confusion later on, it pays to gain a solid understanding of the position. FGP International's Eddie Payne recommends inquiring:
  • What would you consider to be the most important aspects of this job?
  • What are the skills and attributes you value most for someone being hired for this position?
  • Where have successful employees previously in this position progressed to within the company?
  • Could you describe a typical day or week in this position? The typical client or customer I would be dealing with? The expectations To determine how and when you will evaluated, Payne recommend advises asking:
  • What are the most immediate challenges of the position that need to be addressed in the first three months?
  • What are the performance expectations of this position over the first 12 months?
  • How will I be evaluated at XYZ company, and how often? The next steps At the end of the interview, don't forget to ask:
  • What are the next steps in the interview process?