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The 10 Most Often-Asked Questions at Interviews and How to Answer Them

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The following questions may also be asked of you. We have included an ideal response for each one, and a short rationale following it. Practice each answer until you are comfortable with it. Listen carefully to each question asked of you before responding. If you miss part of a question or don't understand it, don't attempt to answer. Rather, smile and ask for clarification. You may be lucky. You might be the type of person who interviews once and is hired immediately. Or you might be the kind of person who goes on 20 interviews before a good match is struck. It's the luck of the draw.

1. "What are your ideas on salary?"

"It's negotiable. But first, let's see if I'm someone you'd like to hire and if this is a place I'd like to work. Then I'll be happy to discuss salary."



Avoid mentioning a salary figure here because, in all probability, your figure will be too high or too low. If it's too high and this is the first interview, you'll be screened out. If it's too low, the interviewer may think (stereotype) you're not qualified and you'll be screened out. Eventually, after your second or third interview, you will want - and have - to discuss money. When that happens, try to get the employer to throw out the first figure. That way you will have a starting place from which to negotiate. The other reason not to talk money up front is because it's to your advantage to act as though you are exploring satisfying career options - not grubbing after money. That is especially true if your primary reason for going to work is money!

2. "Why would you like to work for our company?"

"I've done quite a bit of research. I've interviewed people in this industry, and the message I keep getting is that your company is one of the best. I want to associate with a winner."

If you know something specific and favorable about this firm, now is the time to interject it. This shows you are serious about pursuing a real career opportunity and not just responding to every want-ad you see.

3. "Why have you been unemployed all this time?"

"I've been really fortunate to have some time off. It's given me the chance to do some serious soul-searching, and I've decided I'm ____."

Whatever your response is here, start with a positive beginning and wrap it up with a positive ending. Turn the experience into something that could be beneficial to the employer.

4. "How long do you expect to work here?"

"As long as it's mutually beneficial."

This question seems to be asked more of older workers than of younger ones. An employer has two fears about your work future. One is that the company may not be able to get rid of you - even when it is time for you to retire. The other is that the company will spend time and money training you, you'll get sick and quit, and this whole search/application/ interview process will have to be repeated. The answer above indicates that when it's appropriate for you to retire, you will. It also suggests that you view yourself as in control of your life: If or when the work no longer holds meaning for you, you will look elsewhere because how you spend your time and energy matter to you.

5. "Do you have or have you had any serious illness or injury?

"I'm glad you asked that. I'm in terrific health and intend to stay that way."

One of prospective employers' major concerns is that older people get sick easier and stay sick longer. The employer does not really want to know about your hernia or gall-bladder operation - so don't mention them. Again, you want to give positive, upbeat answers. Just answering "No" is not sufficient; besides, it sounds evasive. Round out your responses with examples.

6. ''How would you feel working for a younger manager?"

"Great. I respect competence at any age."

Obviously, you cannot say you can't or don't want to work for someone younger than you-even if it's true. This response works nicely because it shows you are cooperative, are in charge, and have a sense of humor.

7. "What do you do in your spare time?"

"I bought myself a computer two months ago and have been spending lots of time learning how to operate it. I'm actually getting pretty good at it."

or

"I'm very active in my church and in community affairs. People keep volunteering me to be in charge of this or that fundraiser. I do it because I'm good at it and love it."

or

"My grandkids live nearby and I take them on excursions as often as I can. We bounce all over. It's great fun."

This question gives you an opportunity to dispel the stereotype that "older people are resistant to change." So provide a lively example or two that shows you to be an inquiring, capable, active individual.

8. "We have many qualified applicants. Why should we hire you?"

"I don't know about your other applicants, but I do know about myself. I am a quick learner, have lots of energy, and care tremendously about the quality of work I produce."

You can also insert something about your experience and skills, but always stress the future rather than past accomplishments. Remember, the interviewer already knows you're qualified to do the job. Think and talk benefits.

9. "What are your strengths and weaknesses?"

"My strengths are I listen well, have excellent follow-through, am a quick learner, etc."

Obviously, the goal here is to accentuate the positive as much as possible when talking about strengths and to avoid the negative when discussing weaknesses. Don't literally provide a list of the weaknesses you're working on. Honesty has its place, but not here.

10. "Tell me about yourself."

"I guess you could call me a reentry homemaker. I raised my children and managed my home for 25 years. Now the children are out and doing well, and I feel good about that accomplishment. Now it's time for me. While I was home I did quite a bit of volunteer work and became skilled at fundraising. I've chaired fundraising committees for the PTA, the American Cancer Society, and the Junior League. I've become a good public speaker and know this talent, combined with my fundraising abilities and organizational skills, gives me all the attributes I need to be successful in this field."

This is one of those great innocuous questions that will be asked during your interview. What do they want to know? For starters, let's discuss what they don't want to know. They don't want to know where you were born, how many children you have, or what you do with your spare time - or anything too confusing or irrelevant. What you want to do is make the interview as simple for the employer as possible. Summarize the last five years or so of your life in upbeat terms and calmly explain why you are interested in returning to work. In the space below try your own response to this question. Practice it in front of the mirror 20 times until you are calm and convincing.

Now re-read what you wrote. Is it upbeat? Is it concise? Is it interesting? Is it relevant? Will the interviewer quickly get a handle on who you are? Remember stereotyping. Give the interviewer an answer that allows him or her to put you in a positively labeled box: reentry housewife, retired person who is too active to remain at home, someone in a midlife career change, etc. If you need to, rewrite your response.
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