When Youre Balancing Multiple Projects How Do You Keep Yourself Organized
Employers want to understand how you use your time and energy to stay productive and efficient. Theyre also looking to understand if you have your own system for staying on track with the work beyond the companys schedules and workflow plans. Be sure to emphasize that you adhere to deadlines and take them seriously.
Discuss a specific instance when you stayed on track. Talk about the importance and urgency of the projects you were working on and how you allocated your time accordingly. Explain how you remain organized and focused on the job in front of you.
Example: Im used to juggling projects at my current job where Im often moving between coding one software program to another. I use the timeboxing technique to make sure theyre all on track, allocating time on my calendar for certain tasks. Ive found it really helps me prioritize what needs to get done first, and it holds me accountable for the more repetitive day-to-day tasks Im responsible for.
Are You Applying For Other Jobs
Interviewers want to know if youre genuinely interested in this position or if its just one of your many options. Simply, they want to know if youre their top choice. Honesty is the best policy. If youre applying for other jobs, say so. You dont have to necessarily say where youre applying unless you have another offer. But they might want to know where in the hiring process you are with other companies. You can also mention that youre actively looking for offers if your interviewer asks.
Example: Ive applied to a couple of other firms, but this role is really the one Im most excited about right now because
Tell Us About A Challenge Youve Faced And How You Handled It
Focus on a specific work-related challenge and talk about how you overcame obstacles, used it as a learning experience, used the resources around you , and ended up with a positive result! Thats how to answer this interview question. Keep it work-related, not personal.
- Explain the situation, the task you needed to accomplish, and what method you chose
Dont:
- Talk about an argument you had
- Talk about a challenge that you didnt overcome, or didnt find a solution for
Answer example:
In my last job, we were facing a tough deadline and my boss was out for the day. Our client was expecting a project to be delivered by 5:00 PM, but we were far behind schedule. I took the lead on the project, delegated tasks to the four other team members in a way that I thought would utilize everyones strengths best. And then I re-organized my own personal tasks so I could dedicate my entire day to contributing to this project as well. The project was a success and we delivered the work on-time. I went on to lead more projects after that, and used what I learned to be a better project manager.
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Why Should We Hire You Example #: Programmer / Developer
Honestly, I almost feel like the job description was written with me in mind. I have the 6 years of programming experience youre looking for, a track record of successful projects, and proven expertise in agile development processes. At the same time, I have developed my communication skills from working directly with senior managers, which means I am well prepared to work on high-profile, cross-department projects. I have the experience to start contributing from day one and I am truly excited about the prospect of getting started.
Why We Like It:
the experience to start contributing from day one.
Why Did You Leave Your Last Job
There are a lot of good answers to this interview question. There isnt just one right answer. Here are some guidelines:
If you chose to leave on your own terms, stay positive and focus on what you wanted to gain from the decision, rather than bad-mouthing or focusing on negatives you wanted to avoid.
And if you were fired or laid off, be upfront and clear. Youre not going to make employers want to hire you by being vague or trying to hide something.
If you got fired, show what youve learned from the experience, and what youve done to make sure this doesnt happen again. Thats how to spin it into a positive.
- Be clear and direct and address the question head-on
- If you were fired, own up to it and share what youve done to make sure this never happens again
- If you chose to resign, focus on the positive things you hoped to gain by moving to the next opportunity, rather than badmouthing or talking about the negatives in your last role
Dont:
- Dont badmouth or complain
- Never say you resigned because of a disagreement or argument with a coworker
- Dont make it sound like money is your main priority
- Dont try to hide facts or avoid the question this will just lead to more questions and suspicion from the interviewer
Example answer:
You can also get more ideas for how to answer this on our list of 20 answers for why did you leave your last job.
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Addressing Questions Related To Compensation
During the first screening interview, its not unusual to be asked, What are your compensation requirements? My strategy for handling this question might sound counterintuitive, but I often recommend that my clients dont answer the question directly. In the early stages of an interview process, most candidates dont have leverage, as a company hasnt gotten to know them or the value theyll bring to the organization. In almost every case, recruiters and hiring managers come to the interview with a salary range in mind.
I often recommend that clients flip the question , by saying something such as, If you tell me your salary range, I can let you know if were in the right ballpark. This will give you a chance to respond, rather than risking coming up with a number thats too low or too high, both of which Ive had my coaching clients do, to their disadvantage. If you prefer, you can duck the question entirely by saying, Ill need to learn more about the scope of the job first. Or Im confident that the company will pay the market rate. Your leverage for compensation changes dramatically once a company reaches the offer stage and has emotionally invested in you joining the team. No matter how you choose to address compensation, do your research ahead of time and come to the interview with a sense of the going rate based on your field, level of experience and the local job market.
What Do You Think We Could Do Better Or Differently
This question can really do a number on you. How do you give a meaty answer without insulting the company or, worse, the person youre speaking with? Well first, take a deep breath. Then start your response with something positive about the company or specific product youve been asked to discuss. When youre ready to give your constructive feedback, give some background on the perspective youre bringing to the table and explain why youd make the change youre suggesting . And if you end with a question, you can show them youre curious about the company or product and open to other points of view. Try: Did you consider that approach here? Id love to know more about your process.
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What Are Your Goals For The Future
Hiring managers often ask about your future goals to determine whether or not youre looking to stay with the company long-term. Additionally, this question is used to gauge your ambition, expectations for your career and ability to plan ahead. The best way to handle this question is to examine your current career trajectory and how this role helps you reach your long-term goals.
Example answer:I would like to continue developing my marketing expertise over the next several years. One of the reasons Im interested in working for a fast-growing startup company is that Ill have the ability to wear many hats and collaborate with many different departments. I believe this experience will serve me well in achieving my ultimate goal of someday leading a marketing department.
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How To Answer Interview Questions Quick Instructions
Those are 11 of the best ways to answer interview questions effectively, so you can stand out and get hired in less time.
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Where Do You See Yourself In Five Years
If asked this question, be honest and specific about your future goals, but consider this: A hiring manager wants to know a) if you’ve set realistic expectations for your career, b) if you have ambition , and c) if the position aligns with your goals and growth. Your best bet is to think realistically about where this position could take you and answer along those lines. And if the position isnt necessarily a one-way ticket to your aspirations? Its OK to say that youre not quite sure what the future holds, but that you see this experience playing an important role in helping you make that decision.
Why Do You Think That You Can Handle This Position
In this question asked in an interview, the employer tries to examine the level of confidence and knowledge about a field or work in a candidate, if a candidate is really sure of his part in this particular field of work and explains all the necessary elements related to the work, then it shows his positive energy regarding his work.
Therefore, if a candidate is not sure of the field of his work, then there is a possibility that he might end up in a negative zone using the wrong career path for him.
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Whats A Time You Disagreed With A Decision That Was Made At Work
The ideal anecdote here is one where you handled a disagreement professionally and learned something from the experience. Zhang recommends paying particular attention to how you start and end your response. To open, make a short statement to frame the rest of your answer, one that nods at the ultimate takeaway or the reason youre telling this story. For example: I learned early on in my professional career that its fine to disagree if you can back up your hunches with data. And to close strong, you can either give a one-sentence summary of your answer or talk briefly about how what you learned or gained from this experience would help you in the role youre interviewing for.
Question : What Is Your Greatest Weakness
One weakness that I have is that I get really nervous when I have to speak in front of a group of people. One of my short term goals that Im actively working on is improving my communication skills. In the longer run, this allows me to progress into a role where I can use these skills.
Im taking extra communication classes outside of work while I also volunteered to assist my manager in coordinating our team projects. I feel working as an assistant will give me a closer look at all the tasks and responsibilities of a manager. Furthermore, it will help me develop into a team-lead role in the future whenever the opportunity comes within the organization.
Why this is a strong answer:
Learn more about answering interview questions about weaknesses.
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What Do You Know About This Company/organization
A quick search in the About page of the company/organization you are applying for should be enough, right? Well, yes and no.
Think of this as an open-ended question. Theres no real wrong answer here, other than:
Incorrect Example
I dont know anything about this organization. In fact, how did I end up here? Can you guys call me a cab real quick?
However, the more you actually know about the company, the better your chances of getting hired.
Imagine 2 equally competent candidates:
Which one would you pick? Exactly, the second one!
So, with this job interview question, you want to convince the recruiter that youre the candidate #2.
Now, how do you do that? Well, a rule of thumb here is to do some Googling before the interview and learn the following about the company:
- What does their product or service do?
- What impact does the product / service have?
- Whats the company culture like?
- What are the latest news about the company? How are they performing?
- …And pretty much whatever other type of info you can dig up.
Possible answers:
- Sample Answer 1:
I hadnt heard about you until recently, actually. I found out about through your job ad on RandomJobBoard.
- Sample Answer 2:
Are You A Reliable Person
It is just as simple as saying yes and yes. I mean there is no person who will ever say no to that. Then what can be the objective behind asking such a behavior interview question? Your interviewer wants to know if you are ready to work overtime or not or if you can handle key responsibilities at the time of need. So according to the nature of the job, the answer should vary.
If the job requires strict timing and punctuality then you should affirm your interviewer about your punctuality and your willingness to do overtime in case of requirement. Or, if your job holds a key position then you should mention about your previous experiences where you hold responsibility.
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What Skills Would You Bring To The Job
While this is similar to questions like, Why should we hire you? or What can you bring to the company? it allows you to be more specific about your work ethic, style and unique abilities as it relates to the role.
An impactful answer will discuss your hard and soft skills and use the STAR method to illustrate how your unique skills might benefit the team or organization.
Example answer:I can make anyone feel comfortable in a new environment, which makes me a good fit as a human resources assistant. In my previous position, a new employee came to me and told me that she didnt think she was right for the company culture. After talking to her for a few minutes, we realized that she felt too much pressure to participate in company events. I started introducing events that involved fewer competitions and more casual environments, and she quickly grew more comfortable with her team.
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What Interests You About This Role
Hiring managers often ask this question to ensure you understand the role and give you an opportunity to highlight your relevant skills. Study the job description carefully and compare its requirements to your skills and experience. Choose a few responsibilities you particularly enjoy or excel at and focus on those in your answer.
Example answer:While I highly valued my time at my previous company, there are no longer opportunities for growth that align with my career goals. This position fits perfectly with my skill set and how Im looking to grow in my career. Im also looking for a position at a company like yours that supports underserved communities, which is a personal passion of mine.
Read more: Interview Question: Why Are You Interested in This Position?
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How To Answer Job Interview Questions About Areas That Need Improvement
To answer this question, you need to realize and acknowledge that everybody has areas to improve and that its okay to discuss. Therefore, before you go to the interviewer, make sure that you assess your own talents and identify the areas to improve.
If you give an authentic answer to the interviewer, this demonstrates that you are able to be honest to yourself and others about how you can improve yourself both on a personal level as on a professional level.
Also, by being able to discuss your areas of improvement, you show that you possess the drive to reach your professional goals. This will indicate to the interviewer that you are likely to be a valuable team member that can take the initiative and solve problems you encounter in the workplace.
Behavioral Job Interview Questions Usually Start With:
- Give me an example of
- Tell me about a time when you
- Have you ever
- What do you do when
- Describe situations where
This type of interview questions focuses on your past behavior in professional work settings. The reason for asking behavioral job interview questions instead of just asking traditional ones is that the most accurate predictor of future performance is your past performance in similar situations.
During your job interview, the interviewer wants to discuss previous work situations and wants you to elaborate on them. This is also the reason that you should prepare your examples prior to the interview. Ensure that you provide the interviewer the situation you were in, your task in that situation, the action you took, and the specific results that can come out of those actions. In short, this is called the STAR-method of providing an answer. The STAR method is discussed in more detail later on in this article.
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