Focus Your Job Interview Preparations on These Critically Important Questions
Many people will attest to the fact that a job interview can be an unnerving experience. For some, this may be due to limited experience with being interviewed, while for others it might have been quite some time since they last went through a job search. In all cases however, the ultimate goal of securing a new job remains a constant, hence the inherent pressure of presenting oneself in the best possible light.
To succeed in influencing a favourable hiring decision on the part of the interviewer, it is generally felt that advanced preparation for the interview will be a valuable endeavour. This preparation includes the anticipation of questions that may/will be asked, as well as the tone and content of the respective responses. Unfortunately, interviews are not like Shakespearean plays for which all parties have copies of the same script – interviews are not formally scripted and therefore it is simply not conceivable to be prepared for any/all eventualities.
It is possible, however, to prepare for the most critically important questions that will be asked at some point during the interview. They may be asked in different ways and/or at different points of the conversation by different interviewers – but they will be asked. The topics of utmost interest to an interviewer, and the driving forces behind them, are:
- Why choose you over other candidates? – Assesses key skills, expertise, experience
- Why do you want this particular job? – Assesses levels of knowledge and enthusiasm
- Why did you decide on our company? – Assesses compatibility with corporate culture
As mentioned above, there are many different ways that an interviewer can phrase these particular questions. Here are some common examples, offered for reference purposes:
- Why choose you over other candidates?
- Tell me about yourself
- Give me a synopsis of your resume
- What do you feel are your greatest strengths?
- What would you say are your areas for development?
- What can you offer our company that others cannot?
- Why do you want this particular job?
- What do you know about this position?
- Who have you spoken with about this job/industry?
- Tell me what you know about our products/services
- Tell me what you know about our clients or markets
- What is it about this job that appeals to you the most?
- Why did you decide on our company?
- How would a colleague describe you to me?
- How would you describe yourself?
- What differentiates your work style from others?
- What attracted you to apply to our company?
- How do you like to spend your off-work time?
Regardless of how the questions are actually posed, having prepared responses for these subject areas that can be delivered in a confident and genuine manner (not robotic or scripted) can indeed influence the hiring decision. Moreover, this depth of preparedness will also provide the confidence to answer most if not all of the other questions that may arise during the course of any job interview.
Job Search Success Rate is Related to Time Invested in Interview Preparations
While it is all well and good to infer/understand that answers should be prepared for the critically-important subject areas discussed above, the ultimate success of a job search will likely hinge on shaping the actual content of those answers. So how does someone go about formulating these responses? Fundamentally, this can/will be achieved through extensive research plus the collation of fact-based examples:
- Why choose you over other candidates?
- Assemble the facts/details of 3 to 4 past examples that reflect skills/expertise
- Focus on such competencies as leadership, problem solving, strategic planning
- Why do you want this particular job?
- Conduct extensive research on the job, clients, competitors, and the industry
- Prepare to discuss networking/interactions that garnered qualitative feedback
- Why did you decide on our company?
- Be prepared to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the company
- Research recent press releases, annual reports, pipelines, revenue forecasts
- If possible, informally interview current employees and/or existing customers
Preparing for a job interview requires a substantial commitment of research time but the chances of a successful job search outcome are often directly proportional to the amount of time invested. Some job seekers may view this preparation/research time as a rather overwhelming task however there are resources available to assist in this regard.
One such asset is the guidance/direction provided by a professional employment agency such as Winters Technical Staffing. Recruitment specialists from Winters Technical Staffing are ready and willing to offer advice and insight on how to thoroughly prepare for a job interview, whether in general or for an opportunity that they have arranged on your behalf.
Contact Winters Today
For sound advice and support with your job interview preparations, call the professionals from Winters Technical Staffing today at 1-866-932-5248 to arrange your complimentary consultation with one of our representatives.
