Dardo writes:
I am trying to fill in an employment form. At the last part they ask 5 questions on “General Information.” There are two of them for which I can’t find any good/”cool”/adequate answer. They are:
- Which has been the most difficult problem you have faced (in your job, school, etc) and how did you solve it?
- Give an example of a situation where you solved a problem in an original or unusual way.
I just cannot remember any difficult, valuable problem to present. I am somehow blocked.
Could you give me some tips or hints to give efficient answers (what can a company expect?), and where or how to look in my life history? Do you have any credible “story” I can include?
You have stumbled upon a growing trend in employment applications and interviews: Behavioral-based questions. Behavioral questions are based on the theory that your past performance is the best predictor of future behavior; thus, there are no “cool” answers, per se. You need to dig into your past and find answers to these questions.
Recent college grads with little work experience should focus on class projects and group situations that might lend themselves to these types of questions. Hobbies and volunteer work also might provide examples you could use.
Finally, you should frame their answers based on a four-part outline: (1) describe the situation, (2) discuss the actions you took, (3) relate the outcomes, and (4) specify what you learned from it.
You can read more about behavioral interview questions at Behavioral Interviewing Strategies for Job-Seekers and in our free e-book on the subject, Behavioral Interviewing.
Sandy writes:
I am curious as to why it takes between 3-6 interviews before a company can make up their minds, if you are right for the job. By no means it is my intent to buy the company but rather just work in it, I do not see the purpose of this! What are they looking for?.
I like to think of the interviewing process in terms of dating. Both parties are trying to evaluate whether there is a spark, a level or rapport, and the potential for future greatness. Just as you can’t always tell whether a guy could make a good boyfriend after one date, so too with both job-seekers and employers. Both need the time and multiple contacts to decide whether there is a fit.
Some companies can make these decisions after just one interview, but most companies now do at least two or three interviews, often times with a different mix of people. And while it certainly makes economic sense for the employer, it also makes sense for the job-seeker; you need the multiple contact points to make a sound judgment.
You can find more information by visiting this section of Quintessential Careers: Job Interviewing Resources.
Diana writes:
Please, what are the three most important things an employer will notice, positive and negative, during the initial interview? I have finally landed an interview with a company that I have had my eye on for a long time. Although I have many years of experience in sales (account executive) in the same industry, this position in a branch of the industry that I am not fully versed. The industry is telecommunications.
Diana, I so enjoy a challenge — and limiting me to three important things in an interview is definitely a challenge!
First, focus on a good appearance and a good handshake — first impressions are extremely important.
Second, have good posture when you are sitting, make good eye contact, smile confidently (and warmly), and avoid bad habits in speech and physical activities (such as tapping on the table nervously).
Third, be prepared in terms of questions that the employer may ask you and questions that you want to ask the employer. This aspect includes having done your research on the telecommunications industry so that you are more up to speed about it!
Find all sorts of information, resources, and articles about interviewing by visiting Quintessential Careers: Job Interviewing Resources.
Good luck!
Sonja writes:
Is it all right to take notes to an interview? I have an interview coming up. I have prepared by taking notes to express my highlights/attributes. They’re simply key words/phrases to help me focus/ remember situations. Is this appropriate? Plus, I need to find examples of a follow-up or thank you for your interview letter.
The Career Doctor responds:
Most experts discourage taking notes to an interview. While they do show you are prepared for the interview, they also show that you are not prepared enough — otherwise you would have the information in your head.
I recommend that you try not to take any notes to the interview; instead, use a copy of your resume to help trigger your key points. But if you feel as though you really must have notes, I suggest you do so in a manner as unobtrusive as possible — perhaps using a small notepad.
And don’t fret about not saying all your key phrases and comments. You can always include some follow-up in your thank you letter. By the way, you can find several sample interview thank you letters in this section of Quintessential Careers: Sample Job Interview Thank-You Letters.
Good luck.
Maureen writes:
In the past, on an interview, my mind has gone blank and I was silent for about a minute. Is there any thing that can be done to prevent this?
Oh, Maureen, I feel for you. Those silences in job interviews seem like they last for hours when your mind is racing for an answer, but all you draw is a blank. Not only is it embarrassing, it usually kills the interview.
The easy answer is that you need more experience interviewing — and more practice and rehearsals before big interviews. The more you rehearse, the less likely you will draw a blank … and even in those cases, you should have some system down to give your mind more time to think, such as asking the interviewer to rephrase the question or rephrasing the question yourself and asking the interviewer if that was what he/she had in mind…
Many employers I’ve talked to about this issue are split on my next piece of advice, so take it with a grain of salt: If you carry a portfolio with you to your interviews, keep a sheet of paper in there with a few memory aids that you can glance at to jog your memory. Keep in mind that some interviewers might find this practice as odd.
Back to the practice. The best way is to ask a friend to serve as the interviewer and fire questions at you. There are also Web sites that list practice interview questions, and even some software that offers mock interviews. You can find links to these kind of resources in this section of Quintessential Careers: Interviewing Resources.
Carol writes:
Is it proper to request a prospective employer to pay for your airline ticket to an out-of-state interview?
Any employer worth working for will buy your airline ticket, arrange for your transportation from the airport to your hotel, and pay for your hotel stay. Some prepay; others reimburse.
I know of a number of smaller firms and certain industries where companies do not pay for travel expenses and use the “when you’re in the area, give us a call and we’ll set up an interview” to get around paying expenses.
If you have any questions about who is paying, you should most certainly ask. It’s better to know beforehand, and I don’t know if any employers who would be offended by the question.
Yolanda writes:
What kind of questions should I ask my prospective employers, when they ask me "do I have any questions."
The Career Doctor responds:
A great question. Employers are truly interested in answering your questions, but mainly they ask you because they want to see how much you prepared for the interview -- and to try and make a judgment about your interest in the company and the position. If you don't have any questions, the interviewer may assume that you are not really interested in the job or are too lazy to prepare any questions. Thus, you need to have some questions ready! There are numerous questions you could ask in reply to that question:
- You could ask fact-based questions about the company, division, branch, or product. Example: "How do you determine the value customers are receiving from your products or services?";
- You could ask specific job-related questions for the position you are interviewing for. Example: "How much of the current position involves meeting with clients?";
- You could ask about future plans of the company, division, branch, or product. Example: What are some of the challenges you see this organization (or division, branch, brand) facing in the next year?";
- You could ask questions about the hiring process. Example: "When can I expect to hear back from you?";
- You could ask a question that places you in the job. Example: "What kind of projects/assignments would I be working on first?";
- You could ask about anything that you are really interesting in getting an answer to that was not already discussed during the interview.
There are a number of great interviewing Web sites. For a list of the best, go to Quintessential Careers: Interviewing Resources. To see a list of questions job-seekers can ask at the interview go to: Questions You Can Ask at the Interview.
There are also many good books on interviewing. One of my favorites is: Killer Interviews, by Frederick W. and Barbara B. Ball (McGraw-Hill). I've compiled a complete list of the best job interviewing books.
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