= 101 Job Interview Questions You'll Never Fear Again
**Author: James Reed**

[[Image(htdocs:images/books/101-job-interview-questions-youll-never-fear-again.jpg, align=center, nolink)]]

== Review
Coming Feb 1st week.

== Notes
=== 3G Mindset
{{{#!th
**Global**
  (vantage point)
}}}
{{{#!th
**Good**
  (bedrock)
}}}
{{{#!th
**Grit**
  (fuel cell)
}}}
|-
{{{#!td
* adaptability
* flexibility
* relationship building
* collaborative focus
* openness
* innovativeness
}}}
{{{#!td
* honesty
* trustworthiness
* loyalty
* sincerity
* fairness
* kindness
}}}
{{{#!td
* commitment
* accountability
* determination
* drive
* energy
}}}
|-

=== Types of Interviewers
1. **Unicorn Hunter**: "The perfect candidate does not exist." [[br]]__Tactic__ - Get them to specify competencies required and show how you meet them
1. **Late-running Runaway Train**: Disorganized, nervous, ill-prepared.[[br]]__Tactic__ - Be effusive & expansive. Talk lots.
1. **Method Man / Woman**: Asks all candidates same questions (competency).[[br]]**Tactics** - Point our your relevant ones - twice.
1. **Napolean**: Show-off, talks, asks few questions.[[br]]__Tactic__ - Offer praise where possible, else silence.
1. **Suitor**: Hires attractive people.[[br]]__Tactic__ - Move on.
1. **B Player**: Likes to hire C players.[[br]]__Tactic__ - Highlight your strengths & achievements. You probably won't get hired.
1. **Dues-payer**: Defines success in terms of their career path; their path only. Doesn't like career-switchers.[[br]]__Tactic__ - Show how your skills are another manifestation of theirs.
1. **RHINO (Really Here in Name Only)**: Not engaged during interview.[[br]]__Tactic__ - Be gracious, put on the best show you can.
1. **Entrepreneur**: Founder & sole owner of the company.[[br]]__Tactic__ - Play up work ethic, loyalty & flexibility.
1. **Poker Player**: A warm & genuine exterior conceals steely interior.[[br]]__Tactic__ - Focus on showing what you can do for them.
1. **Goldilocks** (Note: I didn't understand this one.): Neither too cold, nor too hot.[[br]]__Tactic__ - Pat yourself on the back for bringing out the best in people.

=== Classic Interview Questions
==== 1. Tell Me About Yourself
//Who do you think you are? And will you know what to leave in & what to leave out?//

**Tactic**: Break it down, rehearse, breeze it.

* Show a logical progression or underlying theme.
* Indicate that you know exactly what you're going to say & it won't take long.
* No more than 10% personal stuff.
* What you've been up to lately, how that feeds into your skills & experience, and in turn, how skills & experience feed into this position.
* Close clearly - indicate that you're done. Don't leave it hanging.
* Can bounce around chronologically, but show logical progression.
* Can use current job title to start off with the answer.
* 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).

==== 2. Why are You Applying?
//What can you do that we need you to do? Do you even know what we need you to do?//

**Tactic**: Reflect the job spec in every line of your answer. Talk about their needs before you mention your own.

* I'm applying because my **skills, experience and motivation** are the **best fit for the job**.
* Imply long term satisfaction.
* A person's values tend to be stable & enduring - so, point out that your personal values align with the firm's values.

==== 3. What are Your Greatest Strengths?
//Do you really know yourself? Do you know what our problem is here?//

**Tactic**: Answer with the job description uppermost in mind. Go easy on the adjectives & heavy on the hard data.

* Map the key requirements of the job against your best achievements to date.
* __Mandatory__: solve the employer's problems.[[br]]__Necessary but insufficient__: be perceived as smart & professional.
* Showcase aspects that show progression & development over time.
* What was the impact of your strength in context? Who acknowledged it and how?

==== 4. What are Your Greatest Weaknesses?
//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?//

**Tactic**: Interviewer is probably seeking affirmation of predicted weaknesses, not info about new ones.

* Don't give cliched answers; don't trivialize your weaknesses.
* Stick to weaknesses that are apparent, don't introduce a new monster-under-the-bed that the interviewer hasn't spotted.
* Be clear that you know your weaknesses & that they don't perturb you.
* Show evidence that you're working on your weaknesses.
* If possible, directly reference your key performance indicators (KPIs) - make it a less important KPI.

==== 5. What will Your Skills & Ideas Bring to this Company?
//What will be buying from you?//

**Tactic**: Appear generous, no one wants a miser.

* 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.
* Present ideas in terms of work **executed** personally.

==== 6. What's Your Preferred Management Style?
//Are you and I going to get along?//

**Tactic**: Aim to be the boss & subordinate you always wanted for yourself.

* Show that you can work under your own steam, but also that you know there's a hierarchy.
* Bosses want to provide course correction, not spell out details.
* Show you can take both good & bad news gracefully.
* Show that you can give out bad news with respect & humility.
* Show you can give off good energy to enthuse troops.
* May help to talk about key experiences as a subordinate or manager w.r.t. conflicts, success, goal setting & staff performance.

==== 7. Where do You See Yourself in Five Years' Time?
//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?//

**Tactic**: If you don't know, calmly say so, as if now knowing were the most natural thing in the world - because it is.

*