Ok, you get the call. You have an interview tomorrow. Now it's time to brush up on those job interview questions you know are going to be tossed your way.
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Have no fear. You have time to practice your answers (not memorize them) and make a great impression on the interviewer. What kind of questions can you expect? Well, that will differ from job to job, but below are some general questions that seem to get asked in most interviews. The more prepared you are, the better you will do. Before digging into the actual questions, there are a few things you need to know about hiring managers. |
They honestly aren't looking to trip you up - at least most of them aren't. They are focused on your answers and what you reveal about your talents/abilities, your work ethic, your personality and your past work experience. What you share and how you share it makes all the difference between you getting a job offer or it going to someone else.
You'll see that all through this site, I mention doing company research. Some of the answers you offer during the job interview will be based on the information you are able to dig up about the company, it's products and where it might be headed in the future. Of course, sometimes there isn't enough time to do the kind of research you want to do - or - there isn't a lot available on a particular company. In that case, do that the State of New York Department of Labor suggests on its web site. "If you weren't able to get complete information about the job and the company in advance, you should try to get it as early as possible in the interview. Be sure to prepare your questions in advance. Knowing the following things will allow you to present those strengths and abilities that the employer wants."
As you look at the questions below, think about how you can relate your talents/abilities and experience to the questions asked. Your work ethic and personality will come through with the answers you provide no matter which questions you are asked.
When you are able to address each question in a positive way without getting flustered, you'll be ready for all of the possible job interview questions any hiring manager can throw at you. This, of course, should be a clue that you'll never be entirely prepared. You can practice and rehearse, but you'll always be a bit nervous.
Don't worry. It's normal to be nervous. The more you practice these job interview questions, the better you'll be at handling them. I would suggest you start practicing BEFORE you get the call for an interview. Then, you'll be that much farther ahead when you do get the phone call.
"Total employment is projected to increase by 15.3 million, or 10.1 percent, during the 2008-18 period," the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. There's every reason to believe one of those employed is going to be you.
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For even more information about job interview questions and how to answer them, consider the "Job Interview Success System."
One of the 5 key components of this system is a 31-page report entitled "How to Give Job-Winning Answers to Interview Questions." In addition to giving more tips and strategies on general answering techniques, it lists 45 of the easiest, toughest, silliest and most common job interview questions as well as how to respond to them.