Practicing Job Interview Answers
1. Anticipate the job interview questions:Anticipating the job interview questions is one of the best ways to get ready for an interview. Write down at least 20-30 job interview questions and try to think of an answer to them.
Follow the link to get advice on How to Answer Job Interview Questions.
2. The mock interview:There are many ways to practice. One of the ways is to take the help of a career professional and perform a mock interview. A mock interview will be conducted like an actual one with one person as the interviewee and another as an interviewer. The expert will help you with valuable interview tips. She will point out to you the areas which need to be worked upon and also show you your good points which will help you down the road.
Mock interviews are particularly good for any employer from all levels. People who want to prepare for an interview find this technique as a very effective one.
You may also want to wear the clothes you chose for an interview in order to give it a real feel.
You may decide to practice with a help of your family and friends. They will take the position of the interviewer asking you ready-made questions. It is recommended to make several sessions until you are happy with the results.
One great way to see where you stand is to videotape your rehearsal Videotaping will give you immediate feedback and a chance to make improvements.
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Log On Early And Test Setup
Being on time is really being about 10 minutes early. For a virtual, first-time interview, you may want to make sure you are ready to go 15-20 minutes early. If this sounds like a lot, just remember: In a normal interview, you would probably be getting ready, driving, parking and finding the right room before the interview.
In this situation, setting up the computer and logging in is essentially the parking part of your interview process. Make sure everything works and then you can hang out until about 5-10 minutes before the scheduled time.
Pro Tip: ALWAYS act like your interviewer can hear and see everything you are doing. Getting in the habit of feeling watched during the session will help you not do something strange because you forget people are in the room or dont realize your camera is on. From the moment you log in until the moment you close the screen, just assume they can hear and see everything.
Write Down 5 Questions Beforehand
Prepare by doing some research on the company and industry. Try to think of five good questions that arent about salary or benefits
You want to think up five in case some of them are naturally answered along the way. Most interviewers ask at the end if you have questions and having two or three questions to ask will show youve put thought into this.
Pro Tip: Ask questions that show you would be an engaged and valuable member on the team, ready to get to work as soon as you are hired.
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Practice Active Listening During Job Interviews
Active listening is one of the most important communication skills you can develop. It not only helps you genuinely hear and understand what the party with whom youre speaking is saying. It also ensures that when it comes time for you to speak again, responding to a question or taking up the thread of the conversation, you will be responding to what the person was really saying, not just in a manner you had planned while waiting for your turn to talk.
As noted, a professional interview process is about you learning about the company about the work environment, the day-to-day responsibilities, the career path potential, how the company measures success, and so on. But it is about them learning about you.
Even when youre not asking specific questions, you can be learning volumes about a company based on what the hiring manager is saying, and even how he or she is saying it.
And when you have practiced attentive listening, you can help yourself avoid one of the cardinal mistakes interviewees make: asking a question that the interviewer has already addressed. Doing so can show a lack of focus and perception, a lack of flexibility as you stuck to questions you had pre-planned, and, likely, it will lead to the lack of an offer.
Dont Ask For Feedback On The Spot
Ive seen people recommend that you ask for feedback or concerns at the end of the interview. Something like this: Based on what weve discussed, is there any reason you wouldnt consider me for this job? Horrible advice. Never ask this. Ever. Or anything like it.
First of all, they just finished interviewing you. Give them time to think. Youre going to go home and decide whether youre interested, they need time to think too. Dont put them on the spot like this.
Also, youre bringing the negatives to their attention. Youre literally asking them if they can think of a reason thatd stop them from hiring you. Even if they do think of something, they wont tell you for fear of a lawsuit.
I like to say something like this instead: If you need any more info from me or have any questions later, dont hesitate to contact me.
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Ask Your Own Questions
Besides responding to inquiries from the interview panel, ask the hiring team members some questions to show your interest. Prepare in advance by brainstorming questions when you research the company and individual panelists prior to the meeting. Use this knowledge in the interview to enquire about projects or initiatives unique to each panel member.
Related:Interview Question: Why Should We Hire You?
Approach It Like A Sales Meeting
If youre a good sales person, you should be able to sell yourself. Think about it from the companys point of view if youre not able to sell yourself, how are you going to sell their product? Youll also be representing them in the marketplace so bear this in mind throughout the interview.
You should approach the interview like you would a sales meeting. Thoroughly research the business youre talking to and try to think through every possible scenario. What weaknesses may they identify? What do you offer that the competition do not?
One thing to bear in mind is that you should definitely look to be consultative rather than salesy. More than ever, businesses are looking for sales people who offer solutions to their clients problems. Few now go for an aggressive old-school sales approach.
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How You Succeed In Every Job Interview Practical Tips
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Going for an interview can be scary or even an overwhelming task for many of us. But it does not have to be like this.There are some tips and pointers if followed that can help any candidate tremendously. Give your upcoming job interview the importance it deserves and prepare well.The better prepared you are the better are the chances of succeeding in that interview.
But first, if it is your fist time interviewing for a job, lets address the issue of the job interview as a selection method for hiring employees.
Sell Yourself To The Interviewer
When you’re in a job interview, it’s up to you to sell your qualifications and credentials to the hiring manager. You’ll also need to show the interviewer that you’re a good fit for both the position and the organization. With some preparation, you’ll be able to present yourself as a candidate any organization would love to hire. Doing your best to get the hiring manager on your side will help you get hired.
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Keep Your Resume And All Other Documents In Order
Most applicants assume that interviewers already have a copy of the resume that they had sent via email or dropped off earlier. This a poor assumption to make because interviewers frequently ask applicants for their documents as soon as they step into the room. Ideally, take 2 copies of your resume with you along with copies of your certificates and other documents that they may have requested. Double check before you leave that you arent forgetting any important documents.
Once you are done with the basic preparation, the next step is to face the interviewer.
The 10 Top Questions In A Job Interview In English
Here is a list of ten common questions that are asked in job interviews in English and ideas about how to reply. Read through them, then start simulating and practicing your responses.
Tell me about yourself
This is probably the most common question used to start a job interview and youâll have to respond giving personal information, details about your career, your skills, and your studies. In this case you can give your answer starting with the following:
- I was born and raised in â¦
- I attended the University of â¦
- Iâve just graduated from the University of â¦
- Iâve worked for seven years as a â¦
- Iâve worked for various companies including â¦
- I enjoy playing â¦
Why are you interested in this job?
During the interview youâll undoubtedly be asked why youâre interested in this particular job or/and working at this particular company â âWhy are you interested in this position?â âWhy do you want to work for âZZâ?â The answers to these questions should focus on the reasons that pushed to apply for the position. For example, do you want to have a new professional challenge? Do you want a job that can guarantee the chance to grow? You could structure your answers starting with:
- I want to take on more responsibility
- In line with my qualifications â¦
- Iâm convinced that âcompany nameâ is becoming one of the market leaders
- Iâm impressed by the quality of your products
Why should we hire you?
Explain your strengths
Describe your weaknesses
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Answering Difficult Interview Questions
Try to anticipate the less obvious questions you may be asked about your skills and achievements and reinforce your replies by giving tangible examples.
If you need a moment to think about your response, do not be afraid to respond with thats a very interesting question, I would like a moment to think about that, or ask the question to be repeated.
Answer questions as directly as possible, dont be tempted to waffle. Techniques, such as the STAR technique can help you with this.
The idea is to try and impart as much information as you can about what you have done and how you can contribute, so make sure that you have quantifiable evidence to back up your answers.
Things To Do Before During And After Your Interview
An employer will invite you for an interview if they believe that you have the skills to succeed at their company. In the interview, they will seek to evaluate your genuine interest in the company and the role, your preparedness for the position, and your potential to add value to their team.
Your answers to the questions they ask will help them assess your skills, experience, and motivation.
Below, you will nd suggestions on how to prepare for the interview and demonstrate that you are the best candidate for the position.
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How To Solve Programming Assignments
There are four elements in solving technical assignments and then defending it in interviews
But before we look into these. Let’s have a look at how does companies evaluate the technical solution.
40 % Depth & Efficiency of solution
27 % Propose an alternative solution
17 % Coding style, formatting, readability
13 % Time to solve the assignment
Here are the four elements
Make Sure To Set The Right Environment
Your environment is key to making a good impression, so ensure it is free from background noise, and you are well lit so your assessor can see and hear you clearly. You want your assessor to be able to focus on you entirely, and take in what youre saying in order to best demonstrate your capabilities.
Following on from this, try and make sure you have a plain background with no distractions. This may seem small, but will play a role in making sure you make a good impression and what youre saying is absorbed.
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Wrapping It Up: Questions To Ask As The Interview Ends
A good movie can be ruined by a ban ending. So too can a solid interview be spoiled if it fizzles out as it comes to a close. Thus its critical you have a few questions to ask people across the desk from you at the end of your time with them.
So right before the handshakes and parting smiles, consider asking one, two, or all three of these great questions to end an interview.
1. How do I compare with your ideal candidate for this job?
And if the answer is anything other than perfectly, you can follow up asking something like Do you see the potential for me to grow into the ideal fit? If the answer is a clear no, at least youll know now and you can move on.
2. What makes people stay with this company for the long run?
This gives your interviewer one last chance to sell the company and its mission and values to you, and by asking it at the end, you leave them with a last impression that they were trying to win you over, not the other way around.
3. Did I answer all of your questions fully enough?
This open, honest query gives your interviewer one last shot at getting to know you, and it may help seal the deal if they were on the fence.
Youve got this! Good luck at the interview.
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Your CV has got you through the door, now its down to you to sell your skills, experience and personality.
An interview is an opportunity for both parties to discover more about each other. For interviewers, there are three clear objectives:
For you, as the interviewee, you want to find out more about the job and whether it is right for you and convince the interviewer that youre the right person for the job. Be clear about your objectives for the interview and prepare well in advance with all the answers you think youll be asked on the day.
Good preparation and planning are keys to success in most things.
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How To Succeed In Your First Interview
Are you ready to attend your first job interview? It must be exciting and nerve-wracking. Most people have no idea what to expect and can have a hard time coping with the anxiety. But dont worry, as your interviewers are probably experienced at interviewing graduates and first-time job seekers. Remember that preparation is key and no matter how many mock interviews you may have attended, it is important to prepare well for your first real experience.
Prepare To Talk About Specific Accomplishments
Most people go into their interview and make general statements and talk in very general terms. To set yourself apart, you want to prepare specific examples and talk about DETAILS. Facts, numbers and real accomplishments.
Hint: this is true on your resume also. Youll get far more interviews if you cram your resume with facts, figures and statistics instead of general statements like responsible for handling customer requests.
So when the hiring manager asks what you accomplished in your last job, or what you do each day, you should be ready to impress! This is not the time to hesitate or be unsure. Prepare ahead of time for this.
If youre looking for your first job without any work experience, then think about accomplishments in your academic career classes youve taken, projects youve completed, etc. Thats your most relevant experience!
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How To Match Your Outfit To The Workplace
Because youve already researched the company, you should have a sense of the workplace and what level of formality is appropriate. Look at photos on their social media sites to get a sense of what people wear at the office.
Casual workplace
For more casual workplaces, professional-looking casual job interview attire is appropriate. For women, this could mean:
- Dark jeans, a blouse and cardigan
- A knee-length skirt and button-down shirt or blouse
- Both options can be worn with flats or heels, avoid open-toe shoes
For men, this could mean:
- Dark jeans or slacks and a button-down shirt or polo
- Any closed-toe shoes that are neat and clean.
Business casual workplace
For a business casual environment, youll need to dress up a bit more. For women, this could mean:
- Black or navy dress pants or pencil skirt
- Button-down shirt and cardigan or jacket
- Flats or heels are appropriate
For men, this could mean:
- Black or navy dress slacks with a belt, button-down shirt and tie
- A blazer is optional
- Oxfords or loafers
For a formal workplace, wear a dark-colored suit. For women this can be a tailored dress with matching jacket or suit pants or skirt with matching jacket. For men, this means suit pants and a jacket with a button-down shirt and tie.
Keep learning:
How Do You Think Your Skills And Qualifications Would Be Useful To This Role
Think of this as an application question. Interviewers want to know how capable you are of transferring your skills and knowledge from the classroom to the work front and how much training you will need before you can make significant contributions. For this, use specific instances where you had the opportunity to use one of your skills to handle a situation and explain how you did it. It can be from college, during a project or at an internship. For example:
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