Your hard work of sending all those attractive cover letters and your resume has finally paid off and you are invited to a face to face job interview. You will need to work very hard to perform well in an interview, so it is best to be prepared.

There are dozens of other highly qualified applicants wanting the job, so you are going to have to prove yourself superior to them. The only thing that will be of assistance is to practice giving answers to certain questions as this will improve your “selling” skills as regards your unique qualities.

* Tell me about yourself.
This is a typical introductory question in any interview. Your answer should be short, specific and will have to envelop four important topics: early years, education, work history and recent career experience. Don’t waste time here.

* Why did you leave the last job?
Always give a positive answer to this question and under no circumstances discuss any major problem you may have had with the previous company. Never speak negatively about the supervisors, co-workers or the company as it shows your lack of adaptability. Talk about positive aspects such as that you chose to leave for fast growth.

* Do you consider yourself to be a successful person?
You should always say yes and give a brief supporting statement. One excellent explanation would be that you have set goals that you are trying hard to achieve.

* What are the opinions of your colleagues about you?
Be prepared with a positive quote or two from your colleagues eg that you are a really hard working person with dedication to your work. The comments should be accompanied by their name.

* What do you know about our company?
This is related to how knowledgeable you are about the company, and your willingness to work there. Investigate all the things related to the company since its foundation to any recent projects or recent news about its services, products, branches across the world etc.

* Are you applying somewhere else?

Be honest but don’t waste your valuable time in explaining why. Remain focused on your goal.

* What attracted you towards our company?
Such questions can often play a very considerable role in your selection but only if you are prepared with your answers. The answer will be entirely dependent upon your research; for example, in what area is the company growing, whether it is research and development, finance, or management, so you should provide an answer that relates back to the company requirement.

* What exceptional things you can do for us that someone else cannot ?
Give details about your previous achievements and records of successful completion of projects in time. Discuss your abilities and interests as you listed them in your resume and make yourself appear invaluable to the interviewer.

* What kind of salary you are expecting?
This can be very tricky question if you don’t answer it sensitively. Try to avoid answering it directly, instead asking a counter question such as “Can you tell me the salary range for this position?”

By: Ray James

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By: Catherine Z Jones

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Going to a job interview can be one of the scariest and most intimidating things one does in their life. There is much tension and fear, but surprisingly it can be much fun. If you play your cards correctly, the job interview questions and answers game can be used much to your advantage and he process will not need to be as lopsided as you might think.

In order to get in front of a potential employer to address the job interview questions and answers, you must first have a job interview in place. There are many types of job interviews and just because one is scheduled does not mean you have the job secured. The interview process in many cases can be incredibly lengthy and one that may take a long time for a decision to be made. The questions and answers exchanged in an interview can vary based on the type of interview.

Since not all jobs and organizations are the same, every interview process can be different. Some companies might want to conduct a behavior interview where they want to see how the interviewee reacts in certain scenarios. Some companies might conduct their interviews as a group. There are some companies that would prefer to host a video interview in case they need to fly you in from an out of town location and they want to screen you before they take on the cost.

With different types of interviews, comes different job interview questions and answers. Questions the interviewer might ask you but also questions you might want to ask the interviewer. Many employers think positively of potential candidates that show high levels of interaction in their interview. By asking the right questions, you are proving you have an interest in the company, you are thinking about the future of the company and you are the type of person the employer would look for.

Here is a sample list of the most asked questions by an interviewer with sample responses:

Q: Describe a typical work week for you?

A: Make sure to discuss in detail and be prepared to review some of our day-today responsibilities. Make sure to relate your answers to the job you are applying for. The more you can show a connection between the job you are applying for and your past, the more open the interviewer will be to discussing further with you.

Q:What motivates you?

A: Since the interviewer doesn’t know much about you, they want to know how and why you were successful at your previous job. Since your response will vary based on your previous experience and knowledge, you can include the following factors as motivation:

You enjoy Challenges Employer satisfaction is very important Client satisfaction is most important Compensation to perform (if in a sales role) Team accomplishments (if it is a team based environment)

Q: What interests you about this job?

A: Be truthful. Describe the qualifications needed for the job. Tie the job description back to your own skill set and explain why you would thrive in this position because of your previous experience. If the job seems like a challenge, explain you are looking to learn and improve your skills. Regardless of the situation, be excited about the opportunity and how you can bring value to the organization.

Here is a sample list of Questions you should ask the interviewer (Make sure to take notes and pay attention throughout the interview so you do not ask a question that was already answered):

How would you describe the responsibilities of the position? How would you describe a typical week/day in the position? Is this a new position? If not, what did the previous employee go on to do? What is the style of management within the company? Who does this position report to? If I am offered the position, can I meet him/her? How many people work in this office/department? How many people are in the company What are the prospects for growth and advancement? How does one advance in the company?

Overall the entire Job Interview Questions and Answers process is not terribly difficult, as long as you are prepared. Make sure to do your homework!!

By: Robert Krain

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Plan your answers to job interview questions ahead of time so you’ll be ready to deliver them with confidence. Too many job seekers stumble through interviews as if the questions are coming out of left field. You can almost count on many of these job interview questions to be asked at your interview.

What Are Your Weaknesses?

This is the most dreaded question of all. Handle it by minimizing your weakness and emphasizing your strengths. Stay away from personal qualities and concentrate on professional traits: “I am always working on improving my communication skills to be a more effective presenter. I recently joined Toastmasters, which I find very helpful.”

Why Should We Hire You?

Summarize your experiences: “With five years’ experience working in the financial industry and my proven record of saving the company money, I could make a big difference in your company. I’m confident I would be a great addition to your team.”

Why Do You Want to Work Here?

It is important that you answer with a statement that indicates you’ve given this some thought and are not sending out resumes just because there is a job opening. The interviewer is listening for an answer that indicates you’ve given this some thought. For example, “I’ve selected key companies whose mission statements are in line with my values, where I know I could be excited about what the company does, and this company is very high on my list of desirable choices.”

What Are Your Goals?

Sometimes it’s best to talk about short-term and intermediate goals rather than locking yourself into the distant future. For example, “My immediate goal is to get a job in a growth-oriented company. My long-term goal will depend on where the company goes. I hope to eventually grow into a position of responsibility.”

Why Did You Leave (Or Why Are You Leaving) Your Job?

If you’re unemployed, state your reason for leaving in a positive context: “I managed to survive two rounds of corporate downsizing, but the third round was a 20 percent reduction in the workforce, which included me.”

If you are employed, focus on what you want in your next job: “After two years, I made the decision to look for a company that is team-focused, where I can add my experience.”

When Were You Most Satisfied in Your Job?

The interviewer wants to know what motivates you. If you can relate an example of a job or project when you were excited, the interviewer will get an idea of your preferences. “I was very satisfied in my last job, because I worked directly with the customers and their problems; that is an important part of the job for me.”

What Can You Do for Us That Other Candidates Can’t?

What makes you unique? This will take an assessment of your experiences, skills and traits. Summarize concisely: “I have a unique combination of strong technical skills, and the ability to build strong customer relationships. This allows me to use my knowledge and break down information to be more user-friendly.”

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. 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.”

What Salary Are You Seeking?

It is to your advantage if the employer tells you the range first. Prepare by knowing the going rate in your area, and your bottom line or walk-away point. One possible answer would be: “I am sure when the time comes, we can agree on a reasonable amount. What is the salary range you typically pay someone with my skills and background?”

If You Were an Animal, Which One Would You Want to Be?

Interviewers use this type of psychological question to see if you can think quickly. If you answer “a bunny,” you will make a soft, passive impression. If you answer “a lion,” you will be seen as aggressive. What type of personality would it take to get the job done? What impression do you want to make?

By: Carole Martin

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The secret to being able to answer job interview questions is simply a matter of understanding the process. The interviewers are essentially looking for evidence that the people that they are interviewing have the skills and experience. All you have to do to make sure that you get hired ahead of your competitors is to provide that evidence.

The first thing you need to do then in order to answer interview questions, prior to the interview itself, is to find out as much about the job as possible. Read the job description, if it is available, to make sure that you fully understand how the role fits into the organization and what specific tasks are involved. In particular, you need to think through how you can demonstrate you have the skills and experience required for the job. Remember that the skills, knowledge and experience that you have accumulated may transferred to a variety of situations. For example, think about working within a team. You may have experiences of working within a team that is vastly different from the position you are applying for, but nevertheless it is working within a team. Therefore, the issues of team working are the same.

Within the interview itself, in order to effectively answer interview questions you should talk about real, practical examples of your work and experiences. For example, when asked about how you might deal with a particular situation, try not be drawn into talking about hypothetical situations. Instead you should talk about actual real examples where you have dealt with similar situations.

You should be positive, and do not be afraid to talk about your achievements. However, do not go overboard and claim to have done more than you have and that the company you are currently working for would go under without you. So, be realistic and talk about your actual real useful talents.

By: Mark Daymond

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So you’re looking to land your first Federal job and are just about to start working on your resume. Stop right there. Before you put pen to paper (or fingers to keys), you should know that applying for Federal employment is different than the private sector.

Federal guidelines require that you provide very specific and detailed information to apply for a job by way of the OF-612 form or Federal resume (along with a KSA). Since the Federal resume carries the greatest influence of the two, let’s take a look at ways to create one that will help you get the job you want.

What You Need to Know

When applying for a Federal job, there are certain details that you must provide in order to be considered by a recruiter. They include job information (announcement number, title and grade), personal information (full name, address, phone, social security number, and country of citizenship), veteran’s preference or reinstatement eligibility (if applicable), education (chronological listing of high school and colleges with degree types, dates of acquisitions, major subjects, GPAs and total credits earned), and extensive work experience (with previous salaries included).

When detailing your work experience, you should keep the specific position you’re applying for in mind. The Federal government is strict about ensuring that applicants’ skills match the listed qualifications. So go into as much detail as possible regarding how you are qualified. This process will get you that much closer to getting hired.

Don’t Forget Your KSA

The KSA is also known as Knowledge, Skills and Abilities and is a series of statements written in a narrative format that you must include with your Federal resume. It is written in first person and is meant to showcase in greater detail how you are qualified for the job you’re applying for.

Jobs that require a KSA will usually list between three and five statements in the posting that you need to provide answers for. You want your answers to be as thorough as possible by disclosing your knowledge, skills or abilities that relate to each statement, as well as when, how and why you acquired them giving concrete examples. In other words, use up to a page to sell yourself for this position with each answer. Don’t make your KSA a carbon copy of your resume – make it original. And don’t forget to type your full name and sign it before sending it off.

Adding the Extras

As mentioned previously, acquiring a Federal job requires putting in some extra effort, which includes disclosing any information that will help showcase your ability to perform. If you have additional work experience that relates to the position, provide plenty of details (including salary info and who to contact to learn more about your work experience). Also, remember to list any software, training courses, certificates, professional memberships, or awards that might help tip the scale in your favor.

Knowing the rules of writing a Federal resume can get your foot in the door. But taking extra steps to focus specifically on the job position, and include a thorough KSA will get you one step closer to securing a great Federal job.

By: Heather Eagar

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