What To Expect In A Job Interview

Showing Up At The Wrong Time

Ultimate Job Interview Guide – What to Expect Plus Top 6 Tips | Indeed Career Tips

When it comes to arriving at the right time, most interview candidates are worried about being late. But Rudeth Shaughnessy, a former HR director and current senior editor for Copy My Resume, said that arriving too early is poor etiquette, too. Aim to arrive no more than 10 minutes early if you need to hang out in the lobby for a few minutes, that’s OK. Use the time to brush up on your notes or practice your introductory speech.

Question: What You Do You Know About The Company

Answer: This may seem like an innocent question, but it is loaded. This is the interviewer testing you to see if youve done your research. This is where you should talk about the companys goals, something you can easily get from their website or Facebook page. Then its time to make it personal. Talk about why you are personally drawn to these goals and how they resonate with you.

How Would You Describe Your Dream Job

The interviewers want to know whether you will survive in the job once you join the firm. That is the reason why the interviewers ask you about the dream job.

They try to compare and analyse whether you would enjoy the position you are being offered.

The best answer to this question would be to explain how the vacancy they have is perfect for you. This answer would actually help them get rid of their queries and doubts. Here are some sample answers that would please the employers.

I am looking for a job opportunity that offers me growth, stability and authority. These are exactly the three things that attracted me to this vacancy in your company. This is my dream job.

This is my dream job as it is offering me a position where I can make decisions to improve performance of the firm. I was looking forward to taking up a responsible position like this. I have observed the growth of the firm for the past 5 years and it makes me realise this is a stable firm that offers growth opportunities to its employees and that is just what I want in my dream job.

The third job interview is the final round of a job interview. It is the deciding round and there are somethings you need to be careful about.

Here we have listed down some tips and suggestions for the third job interview round.

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What Are Three Positive Things Your Last Boss Would Say About You

It’s time to pull out your old performance appraisals and boss’s quotes to answer the question, “What are three positive things your last boss would say about you?”. This is a great way to brag about yourself through someone else’s words: “My boss has told me that I am the best designer he has ever had. He knows he can rely on me, and he likes my sense of humor.”

Do You Tend To Take Your Work Home With You

Job Interviews â What to Expect and How to Ace Them ...

Hiring managers may ask you this because they want to know that youre not someone who is going to easily burn out. People who tend to leave work at work are better off because they set boundaries. Your hiring manager wants to know that youre dedicated and available, but that youre not going to get quickly overwhelmed.

How to Answer: Keep this short and explain that youre available when you need to be but respect your own work-life balance.

Example: While I can be available off-hours when necessary, I do understand the necessity of a healthy work-life balance. So I do my best to not take work home with me.

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Be Ready To Talk About Employment Gaps

Its always a good policy to be honest about employment gaps, particularly if the gaps are lengthy. Your goal is to present any periods between jobs in the best light possible. Working to find a new job, volunteering, becoming a parent or caregiver, or traveling are some reasons that may be viewed in your favor. Youll want to emphasize any skills you gained during employment gaps that will make you a better employee now. You should also be prepared to explain a firing in a composed, upfront, and matter-of-fact way.

Focus On The Positive

Some common interview questions require you to explain potentially negative situations, like a time when you were faced with a problem, how you dealt with an uncomfortable situation, or why you left your last job. These are not opportunities for you to speak negatively about a past job or someone youve worked with. Your interviewer is trying to gain insight into what you may have learned from a negative experience, your problem-solving skills, and how you can handle pressure. Instead of highlighting the negative, focus your response on the positive aspects of the situationhow you overcame a challenge or learned from your mistakes.

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Can You Tell Me About A Difficult Work Situation And How You Overcame It

This question is often used to assess how well you perform under pressure as well as your problem-solving abilities. Keep in mind stories are more memorable than facts and figures, so strive to show instead of tell. This is also an excellent opportunity to show your human side and how when faced with adversity you are able to persevere.

For this question, consider sticking to the STAR method:

Situation
Action
Result or learning

Example answer:It was the first day of my bosss two-week vacation and our agencys highest-paying client threatened to leave because he didnt feel he was getting the personalized service he was promised. I spent my lunch hour on the phone with him talking through his concerns. We even brainstormed ideas for his next campaign. He was so grateful for the personal attention that he signed another six-month contract before my boss even returned from her trip.

If You Were Given A Chance What Would Be The Three Things You Would Change In Your Previous Company

What to Expect During a Job Interview

The recruiters wish to employ the best candidates in their firm. This can be possible only when the candidate understands the firms working and takes initiative to alter its ways if required.

They look for candidates who possess the ability to identify the flaws in the system. The candidates who just adjust to the ways of the system without having an opinion is never ideal for senior level positions in firms.

The firms require candidates who can make the right decisions. They try to understand your decision-making skills by asking questions like these.

Here is a sample answer that may please the interviewers.

My firm is a great service provider and our customers are always happy with our services. This is because our employees take special efforts to keep the customers happy.

While we enjoy working for the firm, if I were the manager or the deciding head, I would acknowledge the contribution of employees at the lower level.

Their contribution counts a lot when it comes to providing the best service.

What Do You Expect Out Of Your Team/co

This question is meant to understand how you work on a team and whether you will be the right cultural fit for the company. To prepare for this answer, make sure you research the company ahead of time. You can always tell a little bit about what a companys culture is like by looking through their social media profiles or reading their reviews on Glassdoor.

What Did You Like Least About Your Last Position

This question can tell employers about types of work you enjoy, your experience level with certain workplace scenarios and whether or not you would be a good culture add. Avoid saying anything negative about your former employer, managers or colleagues. Dont mention any aspects of your last role that youre aware would be part of this role. Make your answer about your career growth and enthusiasm for joining their organization.

Example answer:While I enjoyed my time learning and growing in my last job, there was a lack of opportunity in the way I wanted to progress in my career. I deeply enjoy being challenged and getting better at what I do, which I understand is a top priority for managers at your organization. Thats why Im excited to continue having conversations about this opportunity.

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Question: Why Did You Leave Your Last Job

Answer: Badmouthing a previous employer at an interview is a big no-no. The interviewer will frown upon this and may just see you as a gossiper or trouble-maker. If you are currently employed, talk about the things you are searching for that you arent currently getting from your new job, such as a more team-oriented environment. If you are currently unemployed, talk about your unemployment in a more positive context. For example, the company went under, but I managed to hang on until the last round of lay-offs.

Can You Give An Example Of A Time When You Had To Cope With A Difficult Situation

This question is one of the most popular competency-based interview questions. It allows the employer to assess how calm and reliable you are under pressure. Outline an instance where you’ve coped with an unexpected problem, discussing how you reorganised and managed your time. Think about times where you’ve had to meet tight deadlines or handle difficult people.

What To Wear To A Job Interview In The Netherlands

Now youve nailed preparation theres one thing left: what will you wear?

Heres a fun fact for you: clothing at Dutch workplaces even offices is more often informal than formal. However, that doesnt mean you should wear sneakers to your Dutch job interview!

Always err on the side of safety and dress in formal business wear. After all, its better to be overdressed than underdressed!

For men, wear a suit and preferably a tie. If youre getting more casual vibes from the workplace you may be able to get away with a collared shirt and a suit jacket.

For women, a nice shirt, slacks or skirt, and perhaps a blazer is best. Dont overdo the makeup Dutch women typically go for more natural looks.

TIP: Not sure how formal your potential new workplace is? Check the websites About Us page and see what current employees are wearing in their photos.

How To Handle Inappropriate Questions

Under regulations from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission , employers are barred from asking certain questions that can be considered discriminatory. These questions involve ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, family arrangements or other personal identity factors. This Business News Daily article outlines other illegal job interview questions that employers shouldn’t ask.

If you feel uncomfortable with a question or believe it’s discriminatory, you have several options for how to respond:

Politely ask the interviewer what relevance the question has to the position or why the question is being asked.
Redirect the conversation toward a discussion of your skills and abilities as they relate to the position.
Answer the question.
Refuse to answer the question.
End the interview.
If an employer asks something truly offensive or discriminatory, you can file a complaint with the EEOC.

Question: Why Should We Hire You

Answer: This is your time to show the interviewer that you are suited to this position. It is always a good idea to research the position before the interview. Why are they hiring someone? What do they need from the person they are hiring? Be that person. Talk about your strengths in a way that will help the company. Show you have researched the company by talking about their general practices and how you will be able to fit in easily.

What To Expect From Your First Ever Job Interview

Interview Questions – What to Expect & How to Prepare — Advice from CareerBuilder

So, your first ever job interview has been scheduled and your mind is dreaming up all kinds of best and worst case scenarios of what to expect. Will it be a short, breezy and informal chat ending with a firm handshake and a job offer? Or will you be met with a panel of stern faces who will spend one hour interrogating you as you break out into cold sweats?

Its fair to say that your first ever job interview can seem like a mystery, hence why I have decided to give you some clarity:

Interviews are a two way conversation

So, lets start with why you are being interviewed. The interviewer wants to a) find out whether you are a good fit in terms of skills, potential and personality, and b) leave you with a positive impression of the company and opportunity. They wont achieve either of these things if you have a negative interview experience and dont feel comfortable to perform at your best. Therefore, expect and prepare for less of an interrogation, and more of a two way conversation whereby you both assess each others suitability.

And as with anything, preparation on both sides is the key to a successful interview. Therefore, ahead of your first ever job interview, I would advise that you prepare for each of the stages outlined below, seeking the support of your recruiter where necessary:

Stage 1: Arriving at reception

Your arrival is your first chance to demonstrate your confidence and professionalism, and even this part of the interview requires forward thinking.

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Act Interested But Not Desperate While Waiting For Feedback

Sometimes you wont hear from the employer for many days after your interview.

They might need to meet more candidates, or might need time to finalize their decision.

Id recommend wrapping up your interview by asking when you can expect to hear feedback. That way, you wont be too anxious waiting at home.

If that time passes, its okay to follow up with the employer to get an update from them. But be patient and never sound needy/desperate. Delays happen.

If they tell you, sorry, things are taking longer than we expected and we are still making our decision, the worst thing you can do is act frustrated or upset. This isnt going to help you get hired!

The best thing you can do is keep applying for jobs while you wait. Its never smart to wait around for one single employer because so many unexpected things can cost you the job or cause a delay in the process.

So thats another one of my favorite interview tips when you finish one interview, try to get more lined up! Dont stop interviewing for jobs until youve signed a job offer.

Aptitude Test: What You Can Expect In An Interview Process

An aptitude test is a way for employers to assess a candidates abilities through a variety of different testing formats. Aptitude tests will test your ability to perform tasks and react to situations at work. This includes problem-solving, prioritisation and numerical skills, amongst other things. The psychometric tests are multiple-choice and there is only ever one correct answer, your score is then marked and your level is compared against other candidates who have taken the same test as you. There are free tests online that you can take to gauge what sort of questions to expect when taking an aptitude test.

Our recruitment consultants are here to help you to prepare for every stage of the interview process, including the aptitude test. In the world of work today, organisations typically run multiple interview stages to make sure that the candidate they hire is the perfect person for the role.

Also Check: What Are Common Interview Questions

How Do You Work Under Pressure

Many jobs involve moments when, for varied reasons, there are unexpected situations that require swift action. The ability to stay calm, think logically and act correctly in such a scenario is a major asset.

This is another good instance of when to use the STAR method to talk about a specific time you were faced with a challenge, might have succumbed to stress but managed to calmly find a solution.

Example answer:Throughout my career, Ive discovered how to embrace working under pressure. I find that routine can make us complacent, so I try to look for challenges that push me to grow.

One time, I was supposed to deliver a project to a client in five days. A colleague who was working with another client had the same deadline, but he had to take a leave of absence due to personal reasons. I was forced to take up both projects at the same time. While I felt an initial sense of panic, I tried to reframe it as an opportunity to see what I might be capable of. Instead of letting the stress get to me, I came up with a very detailed time management plan and found new ways to boost my efficiency that enabled me to deliver both projects on time.

The Post Interview Phase

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The next stage in the job application process, the “post-interview phase,” takes place in the days following the interview. This is the time when the hiring manager decides whether or not you are the best fit for the position. This is also the time when you think about whether or not the job is the best fit for you.

Most companies will respond with a “yes” or “no” within a week or two, although some companies take even longer to respond (particularly if they are conducting interviews over an extended period of time. Some companies, unfortunately, do not respond unless you are going to receive a job offer.

If the company is still deciding between multiple applicants, you may even be asked back for another round of interviews.

Remember that no interview is a waste of your time, even if you did not get the job or you decided it was not a good fit. Every interview offers an opportunity to practice your interview skills and to decide what types of jobs and organizations best fit your personality, interests, and skills.

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