Know your weaknesses
At almost all interviews you will be questioned on your weaknesses. While answering the question on your weaknesses, cut down the number of your weaknesses and focus on your strengths. Don’t touch any of your personal qualities and underline your professional skills and achievements. For example, you can say that you are polishing your communication skills to be more effective at your presentations.
Reasons for your fitness for the job
If you are asked why you should be recruited, you pinpoint your experience in the field. You can say with so many years of experience in the marketing field you have proven your worth in boosting the company turnover, and you would certainly make a difference in the revenue earnings of the potential company if you are employed. Also highlight your abilities as to how you would be an asset to the company.
Your choice
When you are asked as to why you have chosen to work with this particular company, the interviewer is expecting a reply that suggests you have given some thought to this aspect instead of just sending your resume as there is a vacancy. You can say that you always select such companies whose mission statements fit into you value system. In other words, you say you would be excited about what the potential company is doing and value such works the most.
Your goal
Instead of talking about your ambition in life, limit yourself to short-term and immediate goals like getting a job in a growth centric company. You can safely say that your long-term goal depends on where the company takes you. You cherish to grow with the company.
Reasons for leaving the present job
Many recruiters want to know why you are leaving the present job. At the time of the interview if you are retrenched and unemployed, you answer the question in a positive angle. For instance, you can say that you have survived the first round of corporate downsizing and now there is a 20 percent reduction in the staff that included you.
If you your employed, then also you have to strike a positive note. You can tell your recruiting manager that after working for some years, you wanted to look for a company that depends on team work where you could add value to the team with your experience.
The peak of your job satisfaction
If you are asked what motivates you, you can cite a specific project where you were excited so that the interviewer gets an idea of your preferences. You can say how you were satisfied in your last job because you had directly involved with the customers while solving their problems. This answer hints at your skills as a troubleshooter.
How you stand out
When you are asked as to how you are unique, take the opportunity to briefly underscore your skills, achievements and the experience relevant to the present job. You can talk about your unique combination of technical skills and ability to build good customer relations. Tell the interviewer that this combination makes you more user-friendly.
Three positive attributes
If the recruiting manager questions you about positive attributes your former boss would give you, take the opportunity to tell about you in someone else’s words. Tell him that your former boss had told you that you were the best designer he had come across. He knew that he could trust you and appreciated your sense of humor.
Salary expectation
You will be in a better position if the employer tells you the company’s range of salary. Know the range of salary prevalent in the market. If you are asked to tell them your salary expectations, you try to put off the issue for the time being by saying that a reasonable salary can be settled when the time comes. Or, you can ask him what he generally pays for a man with your background and experience.
Psychological questions
Many interviewers turn to psychological questions to test your ability to think fast. If the question is ‘If you were an animal, which one would you wanted to be?’ you should be careful in answering this question. Your response should depend on the type of personality to get the job done and the impression you want to make. Suppose if you say you want to be a bunny, you will make a soft and passive impression and if your choice is a lion, you will be labeled as aggressive. So you must know the traits of animals before you answer such questions.
