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面试

Two essential points​

  • Say "I really want this job." Then explain why your strengths are its requirements.
  • Don't show any frustration, disappointment, or boredom with ANYTHING, AT ANY POINT.

A test of your soft skills​

Someone they would want to work with?

  • Attitude (positive, accommodating, "on their side")
  • Communication (protocol, non-visual cues)
  • Presentation, appropriateness

Soft skills quesitons​

1. Tell me about yourself.​

"well, as you can see from my resume,"

  • Go down your resume in 45 seconds (oldest to newest)

"...and that's what brings me here today, and why I'm excited to learn more about THIS opportunity."

2. Why should we hire you ?​

  • Similar questions with the same meaning:
    • What are your strengths?
    • Why do you want to work here?
    • What makes you the best candidate?
    • Why should we select you instead of somebody else?

"Well, as I undertand it, you're looking for someone who:"

  • Go down the posted job requirements, speaking to how you meet each one.
  • Maybe if you don't exactly one or two of them, you at least speak to them and you explain how it's not going to be a problem because you have something that's more or less equivalent to it.

3. What are your salary expectations?​

(an interview is different from a job application)

  • Job application: you must give a number, you give the lowest possible number that you would ever accpet if everything you don't know about the job turned out to be perfect.
  • Internview: we don't want to give a nubmer

"Well, I would really need more details about the job expectations before I could anser that."

[if interviewer press you further]

"Can I ask what the approved salary range is for this position?"

[if interviewer doesn't want to tell you the range, but they need to know how much money you need]

Give a wide salary range (example: 40k-80k)

4. What is your weakness?​

Don't give a real weakness.

Template:

  1. I do...(bood)
  2. But can I lead to... (bad)
  3. But then I do... (good)
  4. Fixes it

5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?​

The answer is in **this job**. But different organizations have different expectations.

"I expect to be advancing based on my job performance, and likely talking on some new responsibilities."

[If you have to say more:]

"Do you mind me asking where you see this organization going in the furture?"

6. Why didi you leave your last job?​

  • If laid off, say so. (downsizing, term expired)
  • If you left, say so. (ready to do more)
  • If you were fired, you don't have to say it. Possibly mention the point of contention. (you role changed, etc.)
    • "Well, I was hired for a specific role but then they changed my role into something else and I had no interest in doing that new role"

NEVER badmouth a previous employer, boss, etc.

7. Why do you want to leave your current job?​

Don't say anything negative.

[Interviewer: If we were to hire you why would you take this job instread of continuing with your current job?]

"I'm ready to do more." Then explain.

Give elments similar to the job you want.

8. What do you know about our compnay?​

Scan the employer's website before the job interview.

Know their product/service, industry, competitors, difference.

9. How do you handle stress?​

"I handle stress very well." Then, STOPTALKING.

"I've had to deal with stress on occasion, but it has never been a problem in the past."

There is a difference between Handling stree and Aoiding stress.

"You know, I'm just very organized and I make stress not happen."

10. Tell me about a time... (behavioral based question)​

Tell a story from you past.

Before the interview, recall and memorize 10 work-related stories (compact less then 5 mins) from your past.

These should be about successes, failures, and conflict resolution.

Whenever they ask about specific stories, use one of the 10 you prepared, and adapt it slightly if necessary.

11. Don you have any quesitons?​

"What challenges do you see ahead for this role?"

"What do you enjoy most aobut working for this company?"

"Can you describe a typical day for someone in this role?"

"Where do we go from here?" (next step in this job interview)