ou have been called for an interview and you need to put your best foot forward.
Make a start
1. Do a little homework.
2. Research the company and the position. If possible, research a bit on the people you will meet with at the interview.
3. Review your work experience. Be ready to support past career accomplishments with specific information targeted toward the company's needs. All of which basically means: Have your facts ready!
At the interview
Encourage the interviewer to share information about his or her company.
Demonstrate your interest.
Ace your job interview
This is where we come in.
Here is a list of common questions you may be asked.
Practise your response and we guarantee you won't be taken off guard if they are asked.
Most important, relax. Go with the flow and, before you know it, you will be in your next job!
Please note: These questions are presented only as interviewing guidelines. They are meant to help you prepare. Some questions may or may not be appropriate for your interviewing situation.
The questions you might be asked
Try to limit your replies to about two minutes for each of these questions, unless you are asked to elaborate or if it is important to you.
1. Tell me about yourself.
2. How familiar are you with our company?
3. Why should we hire you?
4. What can you do for us that someone else can't?
5. What are you looking for in a job?
6. What are the skills and qualifications essential for someone to succeed in the position you are looking to fill?
7. How long would it take for you to make a meaningful contribution?
8. How does this assignment fit into your overall career plan?
9. Describe your management style.
10. What do you believe is the most difficult part about being a supervisor of people?
11. Why are you looking for a new career/job?
12. How would your colleagues describe you?
13. How would your boss describe you?
14. How would you describe yourself?
15. What do you think of your present/past boss?
16. What were your five most significant accomplishments in your last assignment/job?
17. What are the five most significant accomplishments in your career so far?
18. Can you work well under deadlines/pressure?
19. How much do you expect if we offer you this position?
20. Why do you want to work for us?
21. What are the other positions/job offers you are considering?
22. Have you kept up with additional training in your field?
23. What are your career goals?
24. What are your strong points?
25. What are your weak points?
26. Why did you choose this particular course of education?
27. What position do you expect to have in two to five years?
28. If you took the job, what would you accomplish in the first year?
29. What was wrong with your current or last position?
30. What are the kind of hours are you used to working for or would like to work for?
31. Do you have a list of references with you? (Remember: Don't give this unless it is asked for.)
32. Can you explain your salary history?
33. What questions didn't I ask that you expected me to?
34. What do you do in your spare time/What are your hobbies?
35. Do you have any questions for me?
Questions that you might want to ask
It is always beneficial if you demonstrate your interest in the organisation/assignment by asking relevant questions. Try not to interrupt the interview process. Ask questions -- with your interviewer's permission -- after you have finished the interview.
1. Why is this position open?
2. How often has it been filled in the past five years? What were the main reasons?
3. What would you like done differently by the next person who fills this position?
4. What are some of the objectives you would like to see accomplished in this job?
5. What is the most pressing objective? What would you like to have done in the next three months?
6. What are some of the long-term objectives you would like to see completed?
7. What are some of the more difficult problems one would have to face in this position?
8. How do you think these could best be handled?
9. What kind of support does this position receive in terms of people, finances, etc?
10. What freedom would I have in determining my own work objectives, deadlines and methods of measurements?
11. What are the advancement opportunities available to me, within what time frame?
12. In what ways has this organisation been most successful -- in terms of products and services -- over the years?
13. What significant changes do you foresee in the near future?
14. How is one evaluated in this position?
15. What accounts for success within the company?
What was your job interview like? How did you impress your interviewer? Let us know.
Abha Kapoor is co-founder of K & J Search Consultants, a premier Mumbai placement agency.
More from rediff