Job Interview Article

by ADEWALE ADEBAMBO
(LAGOS, NIGERIA, AFRICA)

Job Interview Article: JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS; KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AND WHAT TO SAY!

Although many candidates dread them, job interview questions are wonderful things! They are your greatest opportunity to prove to the interviewer that you are the best person for the job!

THE KEY TO GIVE BETTER ANSWERS THAN ANY ONE ELSE. To this you must:

(1) Anticipate likely questions;
(2) Develop excellent answers;
(3) Practice!

Be enthusiastic and confident when responding to questions.

Don't rush your answers, but don?t ramble on and on, either. Try to, um, avoid, like, using unnecessary words, right? And um, repeating your self or, like, annoying phrases, you know?

A good technique is to write out your answers to the questions you anticipate, and then edit them to make them more concise. Then practice your polished answers out loud, over and over.

If you can have some one to help you do a mock interview, that would be the best way to do this.
Most questions will relate either to your ability to do the job or the type of employee you will be.

Here's one that is very commonly used to help the interviewer learn about both: "TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR SELF." When responding to this request, you should focus on both your personal and professional values.

Always be honest, but talk about your best traits only, especially those that relate to the position for which you are applying. Highlight experiences and accomplishments you are most proud of.

Here's an example:
"I'm an experienced communications specialist with extensive knowledge of public information tools and techniques. I've developed comprehensive communication plans for major public events, written dozens of articles accepted by worldwide publications, and created specialized educational programs for adults and students."

Tell Me About Yourself

I am always eager to learn new methods and procedures, and have implemented continuous improvement techniques in my past positions that saved money and increased productivity. I like working with people and enjoy group projects, but am also a self-starter who doesn?t mind working on my own.

I'm a volunteer with the local chapter of Special Olympics and enjoy participating in community events. My goals are to complete my masters degree and broaden my experiences with community relations.

Remember to tailor your response to the specific job.

By studying the job announcements, you?ll get a good idea of the skills and experience being sought. Work those in your response. Consider this your own personal commercial. If the interview consisted of only this ONE chance to sell your self, what would you say?

"WHAT DO YOU FEEL HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST WORK-RELATED ACCOMPLISHMENT?"

Choose one example from your past that was important to you and helped the company you worked for. Give specific details about what you did, how you did it, and what the results were.


Try to pick an accomplishment that relates to the position for which you are applying. Employers like to hear about accomplishments that reduced expenses, raised revenues, solved problems or enhanced a company's reputation.

"WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST STRENGTH?"

This is a great chance to highlight your best skills. Don?t pick just one. Focus on your top three or four. Some examples are: leadership skills, team-building skills and organizational skills.

Determine which Strengths would fit best with the position for which you are applying. For example, if the job announcement stresses the ability to handle multiple tasks, you could say: "I'm good at organizational skills, prioritization and time management. But my greatest strength is my ability to effectively handle multiple projects and deadlines."

"WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WEAKNESS?"

Be careful with this one. Most interview guides will tell you to answer it with a positive trait disguised as a weakness. For example, "I tend to expect others to work as hard as I do." Or, "I'm a bit of a perfectionist."

Interviewers have heard these Canned answers over and over again. To stand out, be more original and state a true weakness, but then emphasize what you've done to overcome it.

For example: "I've had trouble delegating duties to others because I felt I could do things better my self. This has sometimes backfired because I'd end up with more than I could handle and the quality of my work would suffer. But I've taken courses in time management and learned effective delegation techniques, and I feel I've overcome this weakness!"

IMPORTANT: Be sure the weakness you talked about is NOT a key element of the position!

"HOW DO YOU HANDLE STRESSFUL SITUATIONS?"

Give some examples of stressful situations you?ve dealt with in the past. Tell how you use time management, problem-solving or decision-making skills to reduce stress For example, tell them that making a to-do list helps.

Site stress-reducing techniques such as stretching and taking a break. Don't be afraid to admit that you will ask for assistance if you are feeling overwhelmed. If it's true, say you actually work better under pressure.

Article Source: Articlesbase Interview Articles

About the Author:
I'M DRAMATIST ADEWALE ADEBAMBO. I WAS BORN 25 YEARS AGO IN LAGOS NIGERIA,I WAS EDUCATED AT THE PRESTIGIOUS NEW TOWN PRIMARY SCHOOL AND IFAKO COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL, ALL IN LAGOS. I'M A GRADUATE OF IYABO OYAWALE'S E-WEALTH TRAINING CENTRE AND THE CIRCLE OF STARS THEATRE. Please Visit My Blog.