Friday, March 23, 2007

Questions that you may face in a job interview

Following are a few of the questions that you may face in a job interview.

  • What are your goals?
  • Why did you leave your last jobs? (do not be negative)
  • Why are you considering a job change?
  • What do you know about our company?
  • What attracted you to this position?
  • What would you and your background bring to this position? What contributions could you make on this specific job?
  • What parts of your current job do you find most/least satisfying?
  • Do you prefer working by yourself, or with others?
  • What would you say has been your proudest accomplishment(s) so far?
  • What has been your greatest disappointment?
  • What have you learned from some of the jobs you have held?
  • What have you learned from your mistakes?
  • What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses? (Technically and otherwise)
  • What qualifications do you have that make you think you will be successful in this position? (Be prepared to mention the qualifications even if not directly asked)
  • In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our company?
  • How do you work with deadlines?
  • Do you handle stress well?
  • What have you done on the job which shows initiative and willingness to work?
  • What are your short/long-range goals. Where would you like to be in 5 years?
  • Why should we hire you instead of someone else?

Critical Questions to ask in Your Next Interview!

Critical Questions to ask in Your Next Interview!

  • What is the company’s mission/vision statement?
  • Is your company living this mission/vision now, or is this the direction in which you are heading?
  • What is your vision for this department/role? Is it being lived out now within the organization?
  • What are some of the difficulties or challenges that you might be facing today as they relate to your Marketing Strategy?
  • Why is this position open, and what are you looking for in the person taking the position?
  • What is your background? How long have you been with the company?
  • What keeps you with this company?
  • How do you remain competitive in the marketplace?
  • How do you see someone with my background and skills-set fitting within this organization?
  • What does your marketing program look like, and how successful is it?
  • Has a budget been allocated towards the Marketing efforts?
  • Are you meeting your revenue objectives this year? If not, what measures have you put in place to ensure that your revenue objectives are met?
  • How quickly do you want to fill this position?
  • I have an extensive database, but who is managing the marketing contact information today?
  • Through our conversation today, is there anything you see in my background, skills, or impact I can have on this organization that still concerns you?
  • When you are talking about me to your peers in the next six months, how will you tell them that I've been successful in this role?

These questions are just a few examples of key interview questions important in establishing your continued interest in an organization (as well as theirs in you).

It is also important to remember that throughout the interview, your primary objective is to ensure the company sees you as the most skilled, most qualified individual who can make the biggest impact on the organization. Therefore, your focus should be on obtaining information through which you can demonstrate the impact you can have on an organization.

Focus On

  • Your ability to drive quantifiable results (revenue)
  • Clear and articulate communicator (written and verbal)
  • Effective and Teaming Professional (information gathering & working with Management)
  • Successful Project Management
  • Sensitive to Deadlines
  • You possess the "Depth" and "Capacity" to do the job.

Don’t forget to

  • Allow them to speak
  • Listen to their pain
  • Repeat what you think you may have heard, so there is no breakdown in communication
  • Design your talk around ways that you would address their pain
  • Be prepared!