Interviewing Effectively

Resumes get interviews. Interviews get job offers. The employment interview is the opportunity to sell yourself to a potential employer. You are the product and you are attempting to communicate the benefits you can bring to the organization.

The key to interviewing well is being prepared. Research the company, product, and industry. Prepare and review questions commonly asked. Know yourself and what you have to offer - your strengths and accomplishments. Rehearse with yourself or a partner. Practice answers to "commonly asked questions"

Outlined below is a list of common questions that arise in many interviews. Some can be tricky and require careful thought before responding. Practice your answers to these questions for better results.

	Tell me about yourself
	What are you strong points?
	What are your weak points?
	Describe yourself in one word.
	What do you like best about what you do?
	What do you like least about what you do?
	Why do you want to leave (or, have you left) your current position?
	Why do you want to work for our company?
	What are you looking for in a position?
	Describe your ideal job.
	Why should we hire you?
	Tell me about your work, what you do.
	What has been your greatest accomplishment?
	Tell me about a difficult situation you faced, how you resolved it, and what you learned about yourself in the process.
	What do you see as being your first goal if you take this position? How do you plan to make this job your own?
	Describe your management style.
	How would your previous employer describe you?
	Where do you see yourself in five years? What are you long-range goals?
	What else do you feel we need to know about you to hire you?

Here are things to know about the organization you're interviewing with:

	Sales and Assets
	Revenues
	Changes from prior year
	Significant changes in past five to ten years
	Different businesses, divisions or products company has; which have greatest revenues, are most profitable
	Where business is done geographically; are they multinational

Here are some questions to ask companies:

	Strategic focus (long range plans)
	Corporate Culture
	Department’s position within company – importance, growth, interaction with other areas
	Daily responsibilities of position
	Career opportunities and growth potential
	Why position is open; where did person go
	Backgrounds of people in the department
	How your background fits position
	DO NOT ask about things such as compensation, benefits, or overtime