Extracts for the Guide to a Successful Interview......

POSSIBLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

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Tell me about yourself?

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• Will come at the beginning
• Is the archetypal “why should I employ you”
• Is a blank cheque to fill in
• Is a great opportunity to sell yourself and your abilities
• Answer should be short, positive, concise and relevant
• Do not say “what exactly would you like to know?”
• Do not begin with “I was born in…….”

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What are your strengths and weaknesses?

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• What are your strengths-“why should I employ you?”
• What are your weaknesses-“why should I not employ you?”
• Question is about self awareness-do you know what you are good at and in what areas you need to improve?
• Focus on the strengths that are relevant to the job
• Do not undersell yourself
• Do not mention more than tow weaknesses
• Do not state weaknesses that clearly relate to the job
• State weaknesses that can be viewed positively:

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Perfectionist:??????????????????????????Paying attention to details is viewed more positively

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Workaholic:???????????????????????????Being dedicated is viewed more positively

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Bored easily:?????????????????????????Need to be challenged is viewed more positively

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Don’t suffer fools gladly:????????Having high standards is viewed more positively

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Why did you choose the A Levels/Degree that you did?

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• Question used to evaluate your decision making process
• Finds out about your motivations and approach to learning
• Discovers whether there was a logical and sensible reason for your choice

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Reasons for leaving current or last employer?

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• “Are there any reasons that might make me not want to employ this candidate?”
• Do not openly criticise colleagues, manager or company
• If your reason for leaving is money talk about your skills, attributes and experience in terms of market rate.?Employers like value for money – you do not want to appear greedy or mercenary.
• If you are made redundant do not react defensively or negatively.?Give the interviewer a full picture – restructuring, number of jobs affected, time-frames etc.
• If you did not get on with your boss be constructive and talk in terms of management style providing examples.
• Remember the best reason for leaving is to broaden your experience.

?What is your biggest achievement?

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• Your answer will give an indication of what motivates you and what is important in your life.
• The interviewer will be looking for evidence of the skills and positive characteristics you displayed which will be useful in the job
• Select only one fairly recent example, which wasn’t particularly easy to achieve

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

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Question used to find out:

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• How ambitious are you?
• Do you have a vision?
• Will you stay with the company?
• Are you realistic?
• Do your plans fit in with the company’s plans?

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The safest answer is probably to highlight that your first priority is to attain a high level of achievement in the role that you are considering, before assessing where your skills could be effectively utilised next.

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What was your biggest mistake?

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• Are you honest and objective enough to recognise and admit a mistake?
• Could it have been avoided?
• Is your judgement sound?
• Have you learnt from it?
• What would you do/have done differently?

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Why are you interested in this position?

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• Best opportunity to “make the match”
• Sell what is relevant and important to them

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How much do you know about our company?

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• Opportunity to demonstrate that you have taken the time and effort to properly research the company
• Prioritise to show you have a good general knowledge of the company and an insight into any challenges and issues it may face

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What did you do in your last job?

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• Talk enthusiastically and in detail
• Emphasise those elements of your last job that are relevant to the requirements of the job for which you are applying
• Remember to talk about levels of involvement and achievements

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Why should we employ you?

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• The effectiveness of your answer will depend on how knowledgeable you are about the needs of the job and company, how well you have analysed your skills, experience and attributes and how well you match up the two.

OTHER QUESTIONS:

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* What did you like best about your last job?

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* What did you like least about your last job?

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* What was your greatest challenge in your job?

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* How successful would you say you were?

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* How do you like to be managed?

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* How would you describe your relationships with your colleagues in your last job?

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* What did you learn from the time in your last job?

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* How were you targeted?

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* How were you performance assessed?

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* What is it about our company that appeals to you?

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* What do you think you can bring to this company?

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* Do you consider yourself a team player?

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* What would your last manager say about you?

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* What would your previous colleagues say about you?

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* What would your friends say about you?

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* How would you describe yourself?

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* How satisfied are you with how your career has advanced so far?

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* What are you looking for from your next employer?

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* What is your biggest disappointment to date at work?

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* What is your biggest problem you have faced and how did you solve it?

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* How do you deal with conflict?

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* Give me an example of when you have been criticised and talk to me about how you responded?

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* How well do you manage your time?

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* What motivates you?

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* What demotivates you?

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* Give me a recent example of when you have shown initiative at work?

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* Give me an example of when you felt particularly enthusiastic about a task you had to complete?

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* Give me an example of when you have been required to show a sense of urgency at work?

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* How so you react when you are left unsupervised?

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* What salary are you looking for?

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* When can you start?

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* What do you like to do in your spare time?

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"There is no achievement without making goals for your success."

-?????????Colin Thompson

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`The Guide to a Successful Interview`

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https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-guide-to-a-successful-interview-dr-colin-thompson/1142630697?ean=2940186793984.