How to Handle a Job Interview
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In today’s news, it has been cited that the US unemployment rate has increased to 10.2%. It may be quite alarming considering the stiff competition in the employment industry. Applicants may come from different sectors. It may come from the new college and high school graduates, people with experience but was recently retrenched, housewives who decided to go back to work, new immigrants venturing into a new future, and even those who are currently employed but looking for better opportunities. Tough, isn’t it?
Interviews are done by the company to get a general overview if the applicant has the right qualification for the job. As a Human Resource practitioner, I have interviewed candidates from different levels ranging from staff up to the senior management. There are different sets of questions that your interviewer may possibly ask you. It varies based on the position that you are applying for in their company. Here are some specific questions that might help you.
GENERAL QUESTIONS - These are some areas that may be asked regardless of the position.
Ø What can you do for us that other applicants can’t?
Ø Why should we hire you?
Ø Why do you want to work for us?
Ø What do you consider as your greatest achievement in your career?
Ø How do you foresee yourself 3 to 5 years from now?
Ø Why do you want to leave your present work?
STAFF POSITION - These are the employees who do the blue collar jobs, clerical or administrative work and require much supervision.
Ø Who watches your kids while you’re at work?
Ø What do you like most (or like least) in your work?
Ø How do you handle customer complaints?
Ø What will you do if you don’t like your boss?
Ø How do you typically organize your daily work?
Ø What is your greatest learning in your job?
Ø What will you do if your co-worker will annoy you?
Ø What will you do if you see your co-employee not working during his official duty?
Ø How are you going to handle the following tasks . . .? (citing specific job tasks)
Ø Why do you think you are fit for this job?
SUPERVISORY POSITION - These are the personnel who usually directly supervise the staff. They require minimum supervision at work. They have a lesser responsibility in the decision making process. They are more in-charge in the implementation of the company’s operational guidelines.
Ø How do you handle a problem employee?
Ø How do you handle a difficult boss?
Ø How do you deal with an irate customer?
Ø What is your greatest contribution to your employer?
Ø What are you going to do if the Senior Management instructs you to do something in the absence of your department manager?
Ø How can you help lessen the operational expenses of a company?
Ø What is your procedure in handling a meeting?
Ø Why do you think should we give you this job considering that you still lack relevant experience?
MANAGERIAL POSITION – These are the people who oversee supervisors and staff in a department or division level. They require no supervision. However, they are expected to perform based on company’s vision. This position involves a good decision making skills. Interviews are usually done in a panel of interviewers.
Ø How do you go about terminating a supervisor or staff?
Ø What is your management or leadership style?
Ø How will you handle Senior Executives who have different points of view in the company?
Ø What is your biggest frustration in your career?
Ø What are the 3 things that you are going to do within your first month with the company?
Ø How do you manage to perform in a company with limited resources?
Ø How do you plan to increase the sales of the company?
Ø What measures have you contributed to help your team make operational improvements?
SENIOR MANAGEMENT / EXECUTIVE LEVEL – This position usually doesn’t require standard questions to ask the applicant. They usually discuss the achievements and expertise of the candidate. They tackle things on a macro-level regarding the business operations and strategies. This is usually done in a panel interview.
So, how do you handle a job interview? You have to answer all questions better than your best. In any job interviews, you will still encounter random questions based on your answers. Be confident. Do not brag. You have to be honest. Being truthful is different from being boastful. Give a truthful answer because your interviewer can determine if you’re lying or not. Do not go around the bush. Go straight to your answer. The road is clear. Just do your best. You may also check out my article on Finding the Right Job and Job Rejection: Reasons from an HR Point of View for general guidelines.
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Comments
Keep your answers simple and short. You only have to make sure that your message gets through to your interviewer. You can give specific examples but a story telling method is not advisable. Keep in mind that there are still other applicants waiting to be interviewed. Your prospective employer usually set a length of time to interview each candidate. Goodluck!
Hi Tina
Thanks for the article. It gets straight to the point. I do have a question, in the case of the 'where do you see yourself....' question, many people think 'How the **** do I know?, I haven't even got a job yet?'
I feel that this may become more prevalent right now, as things are a lot less predictable and there are plenty of tales going round of people being hired and then made redundant only a few months later.
The question about looking after children would be illegal in many parts of the EU.
It may well be interpreted as discriminatory against married women with children trying to re-enter the workforce.
The question "Where do you see yourself. . .?" is the same as asking "How do you foresee yourself 3 to 5 years from now?" For instance, a Psychology graduate can answer it as "I see myself as an HR Supervisor 3 years from now and be an HR Manager within my 5 years work experience." This is to check if the candidate has goals, plans or directions in his/ her career life. It may also lead to questions that may show if he/ she has a leadership potential.
Questions about sex, religion, families, politics, or personal finances are also not allowed in the U.S. You are right, it might be interpreted as discriminatory. However, there are still Asian Countries like Philippines that allow personal questions about families relevant to work. If employers have a concern about applicants with young kids, we may tell them "We don't allow personal phone calls during work hours." or "We require a two hour notice for emergency leave of absence." We just stay focused on the job and company policies.
The employment industry nowadays has a very stiff competition because of the economic condition. Applicants should always do better than their best not only during job search but as well as their performance at work.
Thank you for reading my article. Have a great week!
Good hub, Tina! I'm waiting to hear if I get an interview for a job I just applied for. I hate the wait time the most. Thanks for sharing your expertise.
I hope that this hub would also help in your interview. I still have other articles about job searching. I hope you can also check it out. Thank you for reading my hub.
Goodluck!
I prefer being a business owner than to give interviews. I wont ever work for somebody or under anyone. Freedom means more than anything to me
The interview questions listed can also be useful for business oweners. You can use this as a guide when you interview your applicants. I hope it would also help you. It is really good to have complete freedom when you own something. However, not all our readers has the means or ability to form their own company.
Thank you for reading my article. Goodluck!
Rosa Berger says:
5 weeks ago
I think it is also important to know how to answer the questions that you state above. Would you agree that the answer should be told in a story-telling way (introduction, body, conclusion) and include a specific example? Or should the answer be as short as possible?