Sample Questions

Here we have chosen the best excerpts from The Interview Helper. We are absolutely sure that The Interview Helper will be a rewarding investment for the people that are looking for a job.

In preparing your answers to the questions that we offered you in our Interview Helper, think of yourself as a candidate in a political campaign. A skillful candidate is focused on the message he or she wants to communicate. Rather than being led by the interviewer's questions, the candidate should stay in control of the situation with responses that articulate what he or she wants the listener to remember. Ask yourself: "What is my goal in the interview?

In The Interview Helper we will answer the following questions:

Why do we need the interview?

Four basic questions for which the interviewer needs to find an answer:

- Do you have the necessary knowledge and skills?
- Will you be an asset for the company?
- Are you likeable? Will you complement the existing team?
- Are you manageable?

The power of nerves and knowledge combined.

Feeling nervous or uneasy should not scare and upset you. This can be a good thing; it will keep you alert and totally focused on the important job in hand. Most interviewers will regard it as a positive sign. This shows that you are human and emotional, and you really care about the job.

The Mind of the Interviewer Revealed:

Before you jump into the reality of interviewing, it is crucial to take a step backward and try to see the interview purely through the interviewer's eyes. You should also know his or her basic requirements towards the candidates.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

1) Why should we hire you?

This question goes to the core of the interview. Your interviewer wants a clear, straightforward response. Before your interview please spend a lot of time thinking about this question. Put yourself in the interviewer's shoes. Why should the company hire you? Get yourself a large blank sheet of paper and answer it. At your actual interview, the first thing to do is to find out what the company is really looking for to solve the current problem it has. As you begin to answer the question, the first thing to do is to recap the interviewer's description of the job and the type of person they are seeking and then meet these requirements point-by-point. You might begin by: "Well, this is the key question! In your job description you clearly state that you are looking for someone who is… and who can do… Is that an accurate description “? You can then conclude by saying: " I definitely believe I have the skills and qualities you are looking for to be a success in this job. I'm a team player. I listen and am more than willing to learn from my superiors and I have the desire to do very well. Is there anything that I have left out that you would like me to expand on "?

2) How would you rate yourself on a scale of 1-to-10?

Again, another possible trick question. If you say anything from 1-5 they will think you must lack confidence and any trace of self-belief. However if you immediately rate yourself nearer the 8-10 mark they will probably think: " What an arrogant bugger - what would he be like to work with?" Of course, the real purpose behind this question is to discover what you really think of yourself. It is a psychological question designed to test how relaxed and confident you are in your own 'skin'. Psychologists believe that the people who learn and pick up things the fastest and thus have the capacity to contribute the most, find it easier to get along with other people, and have a healthy sense of self-esteem, tend to really like and value themselves. So don't go too low and don't go too high. The best way to deal with this question is to try to steer it away from being a question about self-esteem and re-direct it towards your work performance. Say: "Well, that is a good question. How would I rate myself? I can only assume that you are referring to my ability to do the job so I have to say that I am quite confident about that and would rate myself edging well up to the seven or eight mark. However, with all the work experience I will obtain here and everyday, just being around and learning from the experienced and skilled craftsmen I will be working with day after day watch that figure go up!”


3) Do you have any questions?

This is an old favorite. Usually this question is a sign that the interview is coming to a close and a signal that this could be your last chance to make a favorable impression. When an interviewer asks this question it is not just out of courtesy to you, it is also an attempt to find out just how interested you really are in this position. For example if you are really interested in a certain career, you would have lots of questions you would love to ask. If you do, use this opportunity to ask them. An interviewer will also ask this question to judge how confident and forceful you are. A strong, competent person will ask relevant questions and expect a coherent answer back. If you don't ask questions you may appear too quiet, hesitant or insecure lacking the inner strength necessary to make an impact in your job. As with most things, adopt a balanced approach - not too many question and yet, at the same time not too few. Use the following suggestions to devise suitable questions.

• Ask the interviewer why he joined the company and if he could tell you what challenges and opportunities keep him here.
   
• Ask practical questions about the job. "Where is the job located? Are there training programs available for staff members and how long before one can apply for them?" Or: "What might my first assignment be?"