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10 Interview Questions Decoded

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Anyone who's ever spent time on a job search has probably walked away from at least one interview knowing right away that they botched it. And most of the time, even people who do feel confident about their last interview know that they still could have answered one or two questions much better than they did.

The problem in such scenarios, according to Jack Warner and Clyde Bryan, co-authors of Inside Secrets of Finding a Teaching Job (JIST © 2006), is that too often job seekers misunderstand or underestimate what they’re being asked during an interview. A question such as ''Do you have any more questions for me?'' may seem innocent and simple enough to answer, but candidates who give a weak response are usually the ones screened out of consideration for the job.

Job seekers should be aware that every question an interviewer asks them is an opportunity to sell themselves as the most outstanding and must-have candidate for the job. In their book, Warner and Bryan identify some of the most popular interview questions, reveal what interviewers really want to know when asking them, and offer tips to help job seekers develop some savvy responses. These questions (or requests) include:



1. Tell us about yourself.

What they’re really asking:
- What makes you special?
- Why should we hire you?

Tips:
- Prepare a list of several selling points about yourself.
- Give a quick ''elevator speech'' to provide an overview of your experience and achievements.

2. What are your greatest strengths?

What they’re really asking:
- What do you see as your talents and abilities as a professional?
- Will you be an asset to our organization?

Tips:
- Sell yourself. If you don’t promote your own strengths, nobody else will.
- Prepare six or seven easy-to-remember responses.
- Be ''confidently humble.''

3. What are your greatest weaknesses?

What they’re really asking:
- How honest are you being about yourself with us?
- How realistic are you?

Tips:
- Present any weakness as a positive.
- Don’t talk too long or emphasize your own shortcomings.

4. Why are you interested in working here?

What they’re really asking:
- How dedicated are you?
- Do you have a passion for this type of work?

Tips:
- Keep your answer simple and to-the-point.
- Stay away from a response like, ''Many of my friends have worked here.'' This sort of answer is far from impressive.

5. Why should we hire you?

What they’re really asking:
- Can you convince us that you’re the one for the job?
- Can you sell your ''product''?

Tips:
- Make a powerful statement about the value you’ll bring to the organization.
- Be willing to toot your own horn a bit, but be wary of sounding arrogant.

6. Where do you see yourself five years from now?

What they’re really asking:
- Will you only be here for a year before moving on, or are you committed to staying here for a while?
- Are you a stable person?
- Can you set goals for yourself?

Tips:
- Be aware that they might not want to hire someone who will only be around for a year or two.
- Feel free to say that you have one goal at the moment: to be the very best employee for that particular job.

7. What are some of your hobbies?

What they’re really asking:
- How well-rounded are you?
- What do you do outside of work that might transfer positively into the workplace?

Tips:
- Emphasize any hobbies or activities that may relate in some way to the job.
- Help the interviewer to learn more about you and see you as a person rather than just a job candidate. Accordingly, don’t just answer questions, respond to them.

8. Would you be willing to pursue an extra certificate or credential?

What they’re really asking:
- How’s your attitude?
- How flexible are you?

Tips:
- Tell the interviewer how important professional growth is to you.
- Understand that the person who will impress the interviewer the most is the one who is most willing to do the extra work.

9. What were you hoping we’d ask today, but didn’t?

What they’re really asking:
- Is there anything special about yourself that you want us to know?

Tips:
- Consider this a ''show and tell'' opportunity. Use materials from your portfolio to convince them of just how valuable you’ll be to their organization.

10. Do you have any questions for us?

What they’re really asking:
- Are you prepared to ask questions?
- How interested are you in this position?

Tips:
- List five or six questions on an index card.
- Ask at least one question, even if all of your prepared questions have already been answered.
- Never say, ''No, you’ve answered all of my questions.''

Warner and Clyde remind readers that it’s important to sound natural and thoughtful when replying to such questions: ''Don’t let your responses sound ‘canned,’ or rehearsed. It’s important to make the interviewer feel as though you’ve given serious thought to their question and are genuinely interested in the job.''

About the Author

Selena Dehne is a career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career, and job-search information available with job seekers and career changers. Her articles help people find meaningful work, develop their career and life plans, and carry out effective job-search campaigns.
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