This question is usually asked only of individuals just entering or changing career fields. If that's what you are trying to do, you must present logical, convincing reasons why you want to do it and why you think you can do it. Surely, you will have researched the career field and yourself in sufficient detail to handle this question easily. Do not indicate that you are still confused about your career goals and options. Perhaps you will respond, "I know that this field is projected to double in the next ten years. I think it has an important contribution to make to both business and society, and I want to be a part of it. I know my talents are well suited to this field, especially my knowledge of numerical modeling." You must sound firm and confident in what you want to do.
2. "What are your goals?"
Explain your Grand Goal in life and the detailed self-analysis you performed to set that goal, including your Crucial Career Plan, your strengths, and your Special Ingredient. If your goal is self-employment, however, do not admit to that, as it implies only a temporary period of employment until you will leave the company to start your own business. This question presents an excellent opportunity, as does the whole interviewing process, to demonstrate the comprehensive effort and enthusiasm you will bring to the job as evidenced by the thoroughness and zeal of your job search.
3. "What is your current salary?" or "How much money are you looking for?"
This is a dangerous question. If the resume is the vehicle first used to disqualify applicants, salary is the second. Every interviewer has his or her own peculiar opinion as to approximately how much money a person should be making at any given career stage. Anybody below this range is usually perceived as being underpaid because of poor performance, and then disqualified. Anybody above this range is usually perceived as being overpaid for no good reason or perhaps lying and, in either case, unaffordable. Since there is only one right answer to this question in the interviewer's mind and only the interviewer knows that answer, it is generally better to avoid answering this question directly. Moreover, new job offers often are calculated largely by adding a standard percentage to your current salary. Especially if you are underpaid or are seeking more than a 10 or 15 percent raise, it is better to avoid this question.
Therefore, either a noncommittal answer or a question of your own can give you more flexibility for negotiating later or at least keep you from eliminating yourself. First try this approach, "The job environment as a whole is more important than the money to me. Tell me, I have an idea of what is normal for a job like this, but into what salary range are you planning to hire someone?" You have asked the interviewer to reveal to you first the important information of how much money the company wants to spend, and you have prefaced that request with the implication that you know the standard figure so that the interviewer does not try to present a low range of figures. After the interviewer gives you a salary range, unless there is an obvious mismatch, you respond, "I think we are both in the same ballpark."
If that approach does not work and you cannot get salary information from the interviewer before you commit yourself as to your current or asking salary, say, ''As I said, the whole job picture is more important to me than just money, and I expect that if you are interested in me, you will make a fair offer based on what you think I am worth rather than on what I might be making now or asking for"
If you are backed into a comer and forced to reveal your current salary, be certain to explain specifically why your salary is lower or higher than average so you are not assumed to be either incompetent or overpaid. In general, it is best not to reveal an asking salary at this stage under any circumstances because it is preferable to have a job offer, any job offer, than to scare the interviewer with an asking salary perceived to be too high and have no offer at all. Salary generally can be negotiated more easily after a job offer than in the early stages of interviewing, before the company is convinced that you are the best person for the job.
4. "What are your strengths?''
This is an easy question. Your response is extracted readily from your previous self-analysis in support of determining your Special Ingredient. Again, explain the detail of your exercises in arriving at those strengths and the fact that these strengths include others' opinions and not just yours.
