Learn How to Answer Interview Questions!

If I asked you how you probably did on your last interview, what would you say? If you are like almost all of my applicants, you probably think the interview went very well – or, you may come out being a little doubtful. But , there’s one thing I know…you won’t tell me that it was terrible. Yet, when I debrief with my customer, chances are I can find out that you did not do as well as you assumed.

Why is it hard for you to show how you actually did?

the fast answer is that hiring companies have a tendency to be respectful. They can generally spend at least 30-45 mins with you, even if they made a decision the moment you walked in that you weren’t the right applicant. And, they will be engaging, and patient in answering your questions. This leaves you with the impression that you probably did well, even if that is’s not the case.

The Key to a Successful Interview

A successful interview relies on two things : 1st impressions ; and how you respond the interview questions they pose. Initial impressions have a lot to do with’presence’. This is an especially vital factor for senior level candidates. Being well dressed, assured, out-going…these are all things that a hiring executive sizes up in the first 30-60 seconds. Fail the first impression test, and it’s tough to recover.

Most applicants believe they know the way to answer interview questions. But, from years of recruiting experience, I can emphatically tell you that most applicants could use some coaching in this area. There are a few things I see on a regular basis :

* Rambling – candidates don’t know what’s on their resume. You need to know what’s on your resume and be ready to give a concise summary of your background and achievements in the different roles you have had.
* TMI – too much information! Examples are a great way to bring your accomplishments to life, but again, these must be summarised, and topical to your contribution.
* Not Listening – answer the question that is’s asked. Listening abilities are perceived to be dubious in most postitions, and if you’re not responding to the specific interview question that was asked, the conclusion will be that you have poor listening abilities.
* Being too General – the more certain you may be in answering an interview question, the better off you’ll be. Candidates often get into difficulty with talking about team accomplishments rather than focusing on their lonesome contributions.
* confessing True Weaknesses – most candidates can handle the’weakness’ question effectively ( i.e. Take a positive feature and turn it into a weakness ) when asked immediately. However, I have gotten more true confessions when asking the weakness question in another way. As an example : on your last performance review, what developmental areas did you and your head honcho identify for you? Or, when was the last time you were criticised in a work environment – and for what?

When you think about how you answer interview questions, do you see yourself in any of these common mistakes? If that is the case tap into some resources that can help .