For the most part, there are also no "right" or "wrong" answers. A response that will make a favorable impression on one interviewer might not appeal to another. Some of these questions, however, afford hidden opportunities to convey qualifications. Others have disguised purposes or present certain difficulties. There are ways to shape your responses to these questions-by addressing particular topics or bringing forth specific kinds of information-that will enable you to make a favorable impression on all interviewers you meet. Here are guidelines to follow:
Questions Concerning College Experience
An interviewer will ask about college experience only if you're in the early stages of your career. The further along you are, the less emphasis he'll place on your academic background. For senior-level positions, questions concerning education will usually be omitted.
If asked about your college days, discuss academic topics and extracurricular activities that demonstrate leadership qualities or relate to your chosen field. Substantiate your early seriousness of purpose and commitment to your career. Don't portray college as having been a social experience.
Why don't you have a college degree? If you didn't complete your studies or attend college at all, an explanation most interviewers will accept is that you lacked the necessary funds or had to go to work in order to support others.
What's your most memorable experience from your college days? Tell an interviewer about an experience that is career-oriented. Never say, for example, that this is where you met your spouse.
If you had college to do all over again, what changes would you make? The changes should be ones that would better prepare you for your occupational choice. Don't say, for example, that you would attend a coeducational school or go to a college in a city versus a rural area. However, while your answers should be relevant to your occupational choice, don’t make the mistake of letting your employer know that you are underqualified in some way.
How did you happen to select your major? Hopefully, your major will pertain to the position you're interviewing for, and you therefore selected it because it would prepare you for the type of work you want to do.
How has college prepared you for this job (field)? Other than taking courses that pertain to the career you've chosen, mention activities you've participated in that have prepared you as well. If necessary, explain how these activities relate to the job or field you've selected.
Personal Questions
Since an interviewer's only interest is whether or not you should be made an offer, include in your responses to personal questions information that will convey your ability to perform the job. Here is a list of some of the most commonly asked interview questions:
How would you describe yourself? Mention attributes that substantiate your qualifications for the position. Also state the important role that your work plays in your life plans.
What does "success" mean to you? What does "failure" mean to you? What do you want to accomplish in your life? And what are your long-term goals? Part of your response should be career-oriented. For example, "I want to hold a senior management position where I can impact a company's profitability and growth, as well as be an excellent provider for my family and play a key role in my community."
Have you recently established any new objectives or goals? What are they? This is an opportunity to demonstrate your motivation, desire to grow, and interest in improving yourself, professionally as well as personally. Be sure you have new objectives and goals to discuss. Include some that pertain to your work life.
What are your personal strengths? And what are your biggest personal accomplishments? Why were you able to attain them? Mention some strengths and accomplishments that convey your qualifications for the position.
What's your best friend like? What kind of work does he do? How are you similar and dissimilar to him? Because people often resemble their close friends, the first two questions probe "what you're really like." The last question is a disguised version of, “How would you describe yourself?” It'll be beneficial if the discussion about this friend, especially your comparison to him, depicts you as the type of person the company is looking to hire.
Are you involved in any community activities? Which ones? Why these? How do you spend your spare time? What kind of books do you read? What's the last book you read? These questions are opportunities to build rapport with an interviewer by relating interests you have in common. If no mutual interests have surfaced during the course of conversation, make note of the pictures on the office walls and any personal objects on the interviewer's desk. They might reveal hobbies the two of you enjoy throughout the interview; you'll have chances to initiate discussions along these lines.
What type of personality is the most difficult for you to get along with? What types of people have the most difficulty getting along with you? Aside from examining personal qualities, these questions investigate how compatible you'll be with the manager and how well you'll fit into his department and the company Use your judgment, and respond in a way that will advance your candidacy.
What do you think of me? This is a difficult question. It's often designed to see how direct or diplomatic you are. Never say anything that might offend an interviewer.
Is there anything you don't want me to know about you? Don't fall for this question! Never volunteer a weakness or negative point. You have no "skeletons in the closet."
Tell me about yourself. This question, which appears as a request and is often asked at the beginning of an interview, gives many job-seekers considerable difficulty. It's perhaps the best opportunity to instantly establish your qualifications. Briefly summarize your work experience, and conclude with a discussion about your most important strengths and accomplishments.
An Exercise to Conduct
When answering an interviewer's questions, how you say something is as important as what you say. Poor articulation will dilute your credibility and your replies will have little impact.
To ensure that your answers will be convincing, there's an exercise to conduct:
First, practice each response by asking yourself a question and then reciting your reply out loud. Never memorize your answers, however. You want to sound natural and spontaneous at your interviews. If you practice with a tape recorder, you'll hear how you actually sound.
Next, have yourself "interviewed" by your spouse or a friend. Be sure you aren't asked questions in any logical sequence, though, and that their order is always changed. There's no telling when an interviewer might suddenly shift direction and ask a question about a fresh topic.
Completing this exercise will enable you to develop a polished delivery with credible responses.
This exercise also provides additional benefits:
Because you'll have formulated your replies before meeting with a company, you'll know that you can't be asked a question for which you aren't prepared. As a result, you'll never get caught short for words or have to grope for answers. This will increase your level of confidence, lessen any apprehension about being interviewed, and assure that you make the best presentation possible.
The case with which you respond to an interviewer's questions will project intelligence, poise, decisiveness, and maturity. All interviewers are impressed with these qualities. Your responses will also evidence the self-assessment you've done and the amount of thought you've put into your career. This will convey your seriousness of purpose, commitment to success, and the full effort the company can expect from you if it hires you.
