| | 62 | === Classic Interview Questions |
| | 63 | ==== 1. Tell Me About Yourself |
| | 64 | //Who do you think you are? And will you know what to leave in & what to leave out?// |
| | 65 | |
| | 66 | **Tactic**: Break it down, rehearse, breeze it. |
| | 67 | |
| | 68 | * Show a logical progression or underlying theme. |
| | 69 | * Indicate that you know exactly what you're going to say & it won't take long. |
| | 70 | * No more than 10% personal stuff. |
| | 71 | * What you've been up to lately, how that feeds into your skills & experience, and in turn, how skills & experience feed into this position. |
| | 72 | * Close clearly - indicate that you're done. Don't leave it hanging. |
| | 73 | * Can bounce around chronologically, but show logical progression. |
| | 74 | * Can use current job title to start off with the answer. |
| | 75 | * Avoid talking explicitly about strengths & weaknesses - this should flow from results you've achieved. Stick to achievements & passions (I'm not so sure about the passions bit). |
| | 76 | |
| | 77 | ==== 2. Why are You Applying? |
| | 78 | //What can you do that we need you to do? Do you even know what we need you to do?// |
| | 79 | |
| | 80 | **Tactic**: Reflect the job spec in every line of your answer. Talk about their needs before you mention your own. |
| | 81 | |
| | 82 | * I'm applying because my **skills, experience and motivation** are the **best fit for the job**. |
| | 83 | * Imply long term satisfaction. |
| | 84 | * A person's values tend to be stable & enduring - so, point out that your personal values align with the firm's values. |
| | 85 | |
| | 86 | ==== 3. What are Your Greatest Strengths? |
| | 87 | //Do you really know yourself? Do you know what our problem is here?// |
| | 88 | |
| | 89 | **Tactic**: Answer with the job description uppermost in mind. Go easy on the adjectives & heavy on the hard data. |
| | 90 | |
| | 91 | * Map the key requirements of the job against your best achievements to date. |
| | 92 | * __Mandatory__: solve the employer's problems.[[br]]__Necessary but insufficient__: be perceived as smart & professional. |
| | 93 | * Showcase aspects that show progression & development over time. |
| | 94 | * What was the impact of your strength in context? Who acknowledged it and how? |
| | 95 | |
| | 96 | ==== 4. What are Your Greatest Weaknesses? |
| | 97 | //Am I right in thinking X about you? Are you going to give me the same old evasive & lame answers that everybody else did, or are you going to level with me?// |
| | 98 | |
| | 99 | **Tactic**: Interviewer is probably seeking affirmation of predicted weaknesses, not info about new ones. |
| | 100 | |
| | 101 | * Don't give cliched answers; don't trivialize your weaknesses. |
| | 102 | * Stick to weaknesses that are apparent, don't introduce a new monster-under-the-bed that the interviewer hasn't spotted. |
| | 103 | * Be clear that you know your weaknesses & that they don't perturb you. |
| | 104 | * Show evidence that you're working on your weaknesses. |
| | 105 | * If possible, directly reference your key performance indicators (KPIs) - make it a less important KPI. |
| | 106 | |
| | 107 | ==== 5. What will Your Skills & Ideas Bring to this Company? |
| | 108 | //What will be buying from you?// |
| | 109 | |
| | 110 | **Tactic**: Appear generous, no one wants a miser. |
| | 111 | |
| | 112 | * Be open & enthusiastic about your ideas, even if they're not a perfect match - your errors will be attributed to your outsider status, insufficient info / context. |
| | 113 | * Present ideas in terms of work **executed** personally. |
| | 114 | |
| | 115 | ==== 6. What's Your Preferred Management Style? |
| | 116 | //Are you and I going to get along?// |
| | 117 | |
| | 118 | **Tactic**: Aim to be the boss & subordinate you always wanted for yourself. |
| | 119 | |
| | 120 | * Show that you can work under your own steam, but also that you know there's a hierarchy. |
| | 121 | * Bosses want to provide course correction, not spell out details. |
| | 122 | * Show you can take both good & bad news gracefully. |
| | 123 | * Show that you can give out bad news with respect & humility. |
| | 124 | * Show you can give off good energy to enthuse troops. |
| | 125 | * May help to talk about key experiences as a subordinate or manager w.r.t. conflicts, success, goal setting & staff performance. |
| | 126 | |
| | 127 | ==== 7. Where do You See Yourself in Five Years' Time? |
| | 128 | //Are you after this job or just any job? How soon will you need a new challenge? Do you have a realistic sense of what we can offer you?// |
| | 129 | |
| | 130 | **Tactic**: If you don't know, calmly say so, as if now knowing were the most natural thing in the world - because it is. |
| | 131 | |
| | 132 | * |
