Do You Really Disclose All Of Your Personal and Job Objectives?

When it comes to job objectivity, an interviewer is interested in knowing that are you just flowing in the current or you have definite career objectivity in a meaningful, purposeful way. You should describe yourself in a modest way, yet highlighting your strengths. When it comes to discussing about the conditions of work, you should indicate that you are willing to perform all aspects of job.

Job objectives

• "Why do you feel you would like to work for our company?"
• "What are some of the things in a job that are important to you, and why?"
• "What are some of the things in a job you dislike, and why?"
• "Aside from money, what do you want from your next job that you're not getting from your present job?"
• "What is your overall career objective?"
• "What are you doing to reach that objective?"
• "What is your salary expectation?"
• "How did you arrive at that figure?"
• "What do you consider satisfactory earnings progression from this point?"

The interviewer realizes you don't know where you want to be five years from now or ten years from now. What the interviewer wants to know, however, is whether you're drifting along with the tide like a ship without a rudder, or whether you have thought through your career objectives in a meaningful, purposeful way. Are your goals realistic? Can they be achieved? What are your time frames? Can you accomplish your objectives in the time allotted? Or are you throwing up a big smoke screen?



In answering these questions, display solid thinking backed up by evidence you can produce-if required. If challenge or responsibilities are important to you in a job, then you must be able to give examples of how much responsibility you had in past jobs or how you successfully met past challenges. If you do dislike certain elements in a job, you must be able to convince the interviewer that you had good and sufficient reasons for your dislikes and that you were not alone in your feelings.

Your self-image

• "Describe yourself."
• "What do you consider to be your greatest strength?"
• "What about your weaknesses?"
• "What traits do you feel you can most improve upon?"
• "Are there certain things you feel more confident in doing than others? What are they? Why do you feel
• that way?"
• "What are some of the things that motivate you?"
• "Without naming him (her), think of your best friend. Describe that friend."
• "How are you alike? How do you differ?"
• "What are your hobbies?"
• "What do you read?"
• "How do you spend your free time?"

During the course of the interview, you should project an image of enthusiasm, ambition, confidence, maturity, and sound judgment. You'll need to project an image that is in line with each situation. Almost always, you'll need to project an image of honesty, sincerity, dedication to achievement, a high energy level, and that of a likeable person. You will also be required to project parts of your image that meet the criteria or hiring standards of the specific position you're applying for.

In describing yourself, do so in a manner that has a touch of modesty, yet highlights your strengths. In describing your weaknesses, turn them around so they come out as strengths. For example, my greatest weakness is my inability to leave my work at the office; but in describing it, I could project it as strength by emphasizing its bearing on my involvement with my work.

In describing what motivates you, select a few topics that would motivate most successful people. For example, achieving tough goals or objectives, overcoming difficult problems, increasing productivity, gaining on the competition, and so forth.

Always be prepared to say something that can tie in your past achievements to some potential problem area in the job you're interviewing for. Then describe how your past, relevant experiences can be brought to bear on your new challenges.

Conditions of work

• "Do you like to travel?"
• "How do you feel about overtime work?"
• "Do you prefer a large or small company? Why?"
• "Are you willing to go where the company sends you?"
• "Are you able to relocate? At company expense? At your own expense?"
• "What are your geographical preferences?"

Condition-of-work questions are pretty straightforward. Your answers should indicate that you're willing to perform all aspects of the job and that you have no preferences strong enough to restrict your candidacy for the position. If you do have strong feelings about relocation, overtime, geographical areas or size of company, don't express them! After you get the job offer, you'll have plenty of time to weigh the pros and cons. If the cons outweigh the pros, then you can always reject the offer. In other words, don't erect any barriers prior to the offer of employment. You can always reject the offer or, at the very least, negotiate once you have been made an offer.

Miscellaneous questions

• "Can you get recommendations from previous employers?"
• "Have you had any serious illness or injury?"
• "Tell me about your military service."
• "Are you primarily interested in money, or do you feel service to humanity is a concern?"
• "Define cooperation''

It's impossible to spell out every conceivable question that may come up during an interview, so be prepared for anything.