The Interview Help Thread....

[amanda6035]

Okay, so I may be a total dork for this idea...but since alot of us who check out this forum are probably job hunting, I thought it might be helpful to have an interview thread that we could post some of the typical interview questions we've come to expect, and maybe some of those curve balls you've gotten and how you handled it.

I have an interview for my dream job in a little less than 2 weeks, and I am trying to prep myself the best way I possibly can. I want to have examples and ideas tucked away in my head so that when they ask a typical question, I already know what I'm going to reply with.

I'm hoping this can be a fun, and informative thread. So if you know some questions, and how you would respond - share them. If you have a question that you have NO IDEA how to respond to - share it as well, maybe we can all come up with ideas to help. If you have an alternate kind of answer to a question that has been posted - share it as well.

In addition to questions - please add random tidbits of advice about the interviewing process - if you have any.

[amanda6035]

One question I have difficulty with is Where do you see yourself in 5 years? I mean, how do you tell them "I just want a job that makes me happy, even if it means not moving up the corporate ladder." Really, I have absolutely no desire to be a supervisor. I never have. I dont want to be in charge of people. I just want to do my own thing, and do it to the best of my ability. But if you had asked me this question 5 years ago, when I got out of the service, my answer would have been totally different than it is today. 5 years ago, I pictured myself being a successful graduate of IT in an entry/mid level IT security job with the potential to move up. Am I there? No. I'm doing bullsh*t IT work as a desktop admin. There is no room for growth. I don't have the knowledge I need to work in this field. I'm STUCK where I am, without more education. Present day, I decided if I was going to go back to school, it was going to be for a new passion (finance), rather than a passion in IT that has fizzled out. I see no point in wasting time trying to rekindle my interest in IT...I think I'm burnt out on it. So if you had asked me 5 years ago if I thought I would be going back to grad school in order to change careers, I would have laughed at you. I certainly didnt picture myself here.

I have no idea how to answer that question, but i probably need to figure it out. I mean, should I fudge it and say "Well, in 5 years, I'd like to be in a supervisory position." i mean...that sounds so generic. Everyone says that crap. And I wouldnt even mean it. Urghhh.

[amanda6035]

Sample questions to prep for - please add to this list!

• What are some of your strengths? Weaknesses?
• What is your biggest accomplishment?
• Why should a company hire you?
• Have you ever failed at anything?
• What are your short and long term goals?
• Why are you interested in a position with us?
• Tell me somethign about yourself that I wouldn't know from reading your resume.
• Why are you ready to leave your current job?
• What skills or ideas can you bring to the job that other candidates are not likely to have?
• Give an example of a time that you saw a project through, despite obstacles.
• What skill or personal work habit have your struggled to improve?
• What do you want to achieve in your next job?

[AZ-AlphaXi]

the strengths and weaknesses question has always been the hardest for me ... what I think of as a strength may not be what the interviewer thinks is a strength and why would I want to expose a weakness to someone I'm trying to impress ???

other questions

what can you contribute to this organization?

what kind of job satisfaction are you looking for?

"I've never heard of the school where you got your undergraduate degree, why did you go there?" .. I actually had that one thrown at me ..

you may get asked to actually demonstrate a skill that's a required part of the job .. ie programming jobs may ask you to actually provide code or an algothrym to solve a problem.

[basket96]

In my field (sales) the questions are usually situational: i.e. "tell me about a time when you had a disagreement with a co-worker? how did you handle it? what was the outcome?" then you would tell, by example, how you dealt with the situation. I always like answering with an example, because it shows how you proactively deal with situations (showing strength) vs. your "ideals" (which can be viewed as weak).

Others:
Tell me about an achievement you are most proud of?
Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult challenge?
Tell me about your most difficult customer?

I hope this is helpful!

[BetteDavisEyes]

I hate this question:

Do you have any questions for us that you'd like to ask?

I always choke on this question b/c YES! I have 1000 questions but the minute they ask me this, I freeze up and forget them.

[pinksirfidel]

Originally Posted by BetteDavisEyes

I hate this question:

Do you have any questions for us that you'd like to ask?

I always choke on this question b/c YES! I have 1000 questions but the minute they ask me this, I freeze up and forget them.

When this question is asked, I use that as an opportunity to show them that I have done my homework... so, i'll ask about something I saw on their website or their competitor's website. I don't usually ask position-specific questions until the second interview or toward the end of the first.

[amanda6035]

Well, this coming Tuesday is the big day for me. I think I've prepped more thoroughly for this interview than any other in my life. I seriously think if I dont get this, I'm going to have ice cream in one hand to gorge myself on, and a bottle in the other. It's going to be like a really bad break up if I dont get this, I think....

Any of you have any words of advice for remaining calm? This position is several hours from where I currently live, so I'm driving into town monday night to stay for the night, (so I dont look like I've been sitting in a car for 3 hours when I get there) and I'm terrible with a flat iron, so I have a hair appt at 9am to have someone do it for me. I know, I'm crazy, but I REALLY want this. I hope that I can keep my cool, and show my enthusiasm without going overboard. I have a REALLY good feeling about this...just because of what it is. I just need to seal the deal - aka, not make an ass of myself.

[navane]

Originally Posted by amanda6035

Any of you have any words of advice for remaining calm?

Yes, as dumb as it sounds, talk positively to yourself (out loud or in your mind) like that goofy Stuart Smalley character from Saturday Night Live.

"I can do this."

"I am confident."

"I am articulate."

"I am qualified for this job."

"I am not nervous. I will do great."

"I am fully prepared for this interview."

"I will show them why I'm a great candidate."

Etc...etc....

Yeah, I know....but it works.

Good luck on Tuesday!

.....Kelly

[AZ-AlphaXi]

Best of luck ... you know you can do this ...

[OneTimeSBX]

one suggestion, not that you would need it, but in case anyone else reads this and doesnt know...

BE NICE TO THE RECEPTIONIST!!!!!!!!

we are the first people the interviewer talks to after you leave!! if u arent nice...neither am i. and you wont get the job.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by amanda6035

One question I have difficulty with is Where do you see yourself in 5 years? I mean, how do you tell them "I just want a job that makes me happy, even if it means not moving up the corporate ladder." Really, I have absolutely no desire to be a supervisor.

You could always say something like "In five years, I see myself happy in a company (always nice to say the company's name that your applying for) being an asset as _____ (whatever position your applying for)" If you don't want to be a supervisor, I wouldn't say that you see yourself in a supervisory position.

Originally Posted by AZ-AlphaXi

the strengths and weaknesses question has always been the hardest for me ... what I think of as a strength may not be what the interviewer thinks is a strength and why would I want to expose a weakness to someone I'm trying to impress ???

I took a "interviewing principles" class last year, and the teacher advised to never give a real weakness. So you would say something like "I think my greatest weakness is the fact that I'm a perfectionist. ..."


The job I applied for is more of a marketing type job. I'm scared I'm going to get a "sell this pen to us. Make us want it" type question. I'm not very good at persuading someone to want an object.

Sample questions to prep for - please add to this list!

What are some of your strengths? Weaknesses?
What is your biggest accomplishment?
Why should a company hire you?
Have you ever failed at anything?
What are your short and long term goals?
Why are you interested in a position with us?
Tell me somethign about yourself that I wouldn't know from reading your resume.
Why are you ready to leave your current job?
What skills or ideas can you bring to the job that other candidates are not likely to have?
Give an example of a time that you saw a project through, despite obstacles.
What skill or personal work habit have your struggled to improve?
What do you want to achieve in your next job?

If you're friends had to describe you in one word, what word would that be?
If your supervisor asked you to do something you knew was wrong, how would you handle the situation?



ETA: and then there are the questions to avoid. Those have to do with marriage, children, etc. Although they are illegal questions to ask at interviews, interviewers might ask. You can always decline to answer the question, or spin it around.

So if an interviewer asks, "Do you plan on getting married soon?" You can say "If you are asking me whether my commitment might faulter, I can assure you it won't. I'll put 110% into my job."

[amanda6035]

I realized I hijacked my own thread by putting my interview story in here, so I deleted it - but I wanted to let you all know that I GOT THE JOB OFFER!!!!

I am SO excited. I'm going to call on Monday to accept, and will hopefully begin on September 29th! WOOOO!

[navane]

Oh! Good for you! Congratulations!!!


.....Kelly

[AZ-AlphaXi]

Yippeee ... I know that you really wanted this ... good luck!!