Ask Your Own Questions

 Ask Your Own Questions

Okay, you have made it to the end of your interview and the interviewer says it is now 

your turn.  They want to know if you have any questions for them.  And most likely you 

do:  “How did I do” and “Are you going to hire me” – unfortunately you can’t ask either 

one.  But there are questions that you can ask to glean some information on how you 

performed and to determine if the company is a right fit for you.

Although it is not acceptable to ask how you did in an interview, it is okay and 

encouraged to ask what the next steps are and the timeline for them.  Depending on how 

this is answered, you may be able to figure out their reaction to you.  But this is not full-

proof and is not a guarantee.  If they take the time to explain all the checks they need to 

go through, how many people they have left to interview and so on, they are probably 

interested and want you to understand that there is still steps left in the process.  If they 

only tell you that you will hear from them within a certain period of time via letter, well it 

isn’t as promising.

Look at the opportunity to ask your own questions as your chance to interview the 

company.  Of course you have done your research prior to attending and have made up a 

list that you wrote down before attending.  Show your preparedness and pull out the list 

to ask your questions.  Things like company direction and expansion show an interest in 

the business.  Feel free to take notes; it can earn you brownie points.  Ask questions that 

are important to you as well, if vacation time and benefits are a deal breaker for you, find 

out now what the company has to offer.

How to Answer the Tough Interview Questions

 How to Answer the Tough Interview Questions

Each interview has at least one, a question that you really don’t know the best way to 

answer.  It is the one that you agonize over for days and keep going over it and over it in 

your head and you ask others how they would have answered.  There is not way to avoid 

these types of questions but you can answer them with confidence to give yourself peace 

of mind until you get a call back.

Do not feel that you have to answer immediately after you have been asked a question.  

You are not on a game show where the fastest contestant to answer wins.  Your 

interviewers will appreciate that you have taken time to formulate your answer.  If you 

are concerned by a prolonged silence – don’t be, it is normal.  If you have been asked a 

question that you do not know exactly what to say, ask for a moment to think of an 

appropriate answer.  This is preferable to taking a long time to answer without explaining 

what you are doing.

If you really can’t think of an answer off of the top of your head, ask if you can come 

back to the question in a moment – keep trying to think of an answer.  Don’t think that if 

you get to the end of the interview and you haven’t answered the question that you are off 

of the hook.  Even if your interviewer doesn’t ask again, it has not gone unnoticed that 

you didn’t respond to a question.  The best case scenario is for you to bring the topic back 

to the question and answer it accordingly.  Thank your interviewer for giving you the 

extra time to come up with the right answer.  

If it is a lengthy question that is broken into parts, break it down into, don’t try and 

answer it all at once – you can always ask for parts of the question to be repeated.

How to Thank an Interviewer

 How to Thank an Interviewer

You may think that it is best to follow-up with an interviewer to thank them for their time 

and keep your name in the forefront of their mind.  While this may have that affect on 

them, it may not be in the positive way you are looking for.  An interviewer takes time 

out of their regular job to fill vacancies in a department.  It is an extremely busy and 

stressful time for them and they do not want (nor have time to) take calls from everyone 

that they have completed interviews with.

But this is not to say that sending along a thank you is a bad idea, it’s not.  The method 

that you thank your interviewer is going to make a difference.  If you received a business 

card, send a quick e-mail to thank them for their time and that you are looking forward to 

hearing from them.  Quick and to the point and leave it at that.  Do not expect a reply 

because you probably won’t get one and do not follow-up on your e-mail to make sure 

they received it – you will become an annoyance.

Second to sending a quick e-mail, you can send a short and professional thank you note 

(this means no scented stationary or something too cutesy).  The message should be 

similar, thanking the interviewer for taking the time to sit down with you, express how 

much you enjoyed speaking with them and learning more about the company.  It is a 

nicety that while not necessary, can be an added touch to a strong interview.

It may not guarantee you the job, but thank you notes, if done the right way, may open 

doors for you in the future.  If there are openings in the company at a later time, the 

interviewer may remember you and think of you before others.

If you Get Stumped by a Question

 If you Get Stumped by a Question

You can prepare for an interview until you are blue in the face and still get stumped on a 

question during the process.  It is okay, it happens to a lot of people.  Some questions 

come out of left field, sometimes you draw a blank, and others – you really don’t know 

what to say.  Here is a brief run down of what you can do in these three situations.

A (Seemingly) Off Topic Question – These may be thrown in to the interview out of 

curiosity by the interviewer or to gauge your knowledge on a certain subject.  It is not a 

reason to dismiss the question though and not pay it the care and attention you would to 

any other one.  Do your best, and if you really can’t figure out the correlation between the 

question and the job you are applying to, you can ask at the end of the interview – along 

the lines, “out of curiosity….”

You Draw a Blank – Ask for a minute to compose your answer, and do some fast 

brainstorming.  If you feel that the silence is becoming uncomfortable, you can ask to 

come back to the question at the end of the interview.  As long as you do go back to it, 

this is an acceptable solution.  Silence is okay during an interview when you are trying to 

think of an answer, do not feel obligated to fill the silence, concentrate on the answer you 

want to give.

You Don’t Know What to Say – If it is a matter that you are sure what the interviewer is 

looking for in an answer, ask for clarification.  Sometimes asking for an example of what 

they mean can guide you in what you should say.  If you take a shot in the dark, you 

might provide what they want – but why take the chance?  

Know what Your References are Going to Say about You

 Know what Your References 

Before attending an interview, you should have your references lined-up and ready to 

provide to the interviewer when asked.  More than just writing down names and phone 

numbers of previous employers and bosses, you need to do additional preparation.  

Finding out how a former employer views you and your work history with them is vital 

before providing that information to a potential employer.  Even if your memory of your 

time spent there is positive, you don’t know how you were remembered or what will be 

said unless you ask.

Your first step should be to contact everyone that you are considering using as a 

reference.  You will want to confirm they are working for the same company and if their 

phone number is the same.  If a boss has moved to another company, you can still utilize 

them as a reference provided you can track them down.

When you reach a potential reference, don’t assume they will remember you and 

everything about you – remind them.  Things you say during your conversation can have 

a positive outcome on what they have to say about you later on.  Ask them if they are 

comfortable providing you with a favorable reference and if there is any feedback they 

have for you.  If you are very comfortable you can flat out ask how they felt about your 

time working with them and what they would say about you if someone called to ask.

If you are not comfortable with providing a direct supervisor or boss you can use other 

employees in the company that old a supervisory position.  Think of people you have 

worked closely with on projects or such – they are valid and reputable people to provide 

as references too.  

But if you have made it through the interview process, a reference would have to go quite 

badly for it to affect a possible job offer.

Make a Connection

Make a Connection 

Depending on how popular or sought after the job you are interviewing for is you will 

have a lot of competition for a few positions.  A stellar interview is crucial to make you 

stand out from the rest of the crowd.  To give yourself an added edge and cement yourself 

in your interviewer’s mind, try to make a personal connection with them at some point in 

the interview.

A personal connection can take numerous forms.  If you are in the interviewer’s office 

and they have a picture of a sailboat on their wall (and you happen to love sailing), make 

an appropriate comment that identifies you as a sailor too.  This may not put you above 

others more qualified than you but it will help you to stand out amongst those you are in 

direct competition with.

Take your cues from the interviewer, if they seem uncomfortable with relaying any 

personal information or are not comfortable veering off topic then follow their lead.  If a 

personal conversation does develop, let the interviewer guide it.  When they bring it to a 

close and either get back to the questions or say good bye, leave it at that.

At the end of the day, interviewers want to hire people that are qualified and who will fit 

in with the rest of the team at the company.  If you can make a connection and have the 

right skill sets you will be giving yourself a better chance than someone else.  You will 

also help the interviewer recall who you are and stick out in their mind as that candidate 

who knew a lot about sailing.

If you are not comfortable with discussing personal topics during an interview, don’t feel 

that you must go out of your way to do so.  At the end of the day, your qualifications are 

what you should be highlighting.

More than asking questions

 

More than asking questions

We would usually think that tips for the job interview would only be intended for interviewees but there are also important reminders for those who are the ones asking questions, we call them interviewers. For applicants, they are the tickets to an employed you.

 

As an interviewer should you roast interviewees to sweat because of nervousness? Should you be very intimidating to put the applicant to the biggest test of his or her life? Should you ask fiery questions that would fry him or her in his own oil? These and more would be answered.

 

Before you conduct the interview, be sure to take note of the questions you are going to ask your applicant. This would help you remember questions you need to raise.

 

Take note of the objectives you have, associate them with the questions you will be asking the applicant.

 

 

Have in mind a place that would have an atmosphere for a conversation. See to it that the place has no elements that could interrupt the interview.

 

Never intimidate the interviewee. You want to know the person, do not put him on the hot seat where he would become so unnaturally intimidated.

 

Let the interviewee speak, you have to be attentive so that you would be able to get important messages.

 

Use questions that would hit the motives of the applicant.

 

Give the interviewees the chance to ask questions.

 

 

 

With these, you would be able to get what you really want to know from the interviewee. The most important thing is that you would not have regrets by hiring the wrong person.

Pauses and Silences are Okay

 Pauses and Silences are Okay

There are going to be a lot of periods during an interview when there are going to be 

pauses in conversation or flat out silence.  This can be initiated by you or the interviewer 

and in most cases either is not an indicator that something is amiss.  

You can ask for a moment to think of an answer and during this time there is most likely 

going to be complete silence.  This is fine and perfectly normal, don’t get distracted 

because no one is talking, use the time you have asked for wisely and think of the best 

answer or example you can give.

If the interviewer is taking notes (and most likely they are), be comfortable with the fact 

that there is going to be pauses in between questions and they try and write everything 

down.  This is actually a good thing because it means they have liked what you have to 

say and want to remember it when they are later making a decision on who to hire.  Don’t 

feel the need to fill this space, let them continue writing and wait for the next question.

If you have answered a question and it is met by silence and the interviewer is not writing 

anything done, you may be at a loss as to what you should do.  It could signal that the 

interview is expecting more information or they are not satisfied with the answer.  You 

won’t know unless you ask, “Do you want me to elaborate on that?”  If the answer is no, 

just patiently wait for the next question to be asked.

Don’t worry that the interviewer is not praising you on your answer to each question and 

continue onto the next one.  They do not want to give you an indication of how you are 

doing during the interview and are trained to be neutral when responding to answers, if 

the respond at all.

Poor Working Relationship with your Boss

 Poor Working Relationship with your Boss

It may be the reason you are looking for another job in the first place – you and your 

current boss do not work well together.  And good for you for taking charge of the 

situation to find something that is a better fit for you.  But how do you approach this 

situation so it will not hinder your chances at a new company?  There are a few steps you 

should take first and you need to mind what you say during the interview.

A lot of interviews will contain at least one question about your working relationship 

with your current boss.  They can take many forms and you should prepare for a lot of 

different types of questions that may be asked.  No matter what the question, even if it is 

one asking you to describe conflict with your boss, be positive and do not bash anyone in 

your answers.  

Remove any emotions from the equation and explain the situation using the facts and 

highlight all of the professional steps you have taken to rectify the situation.  Don’t try 

and make your boss sound like the bad guy, and try to de-emphasize the entire event.  It 

may seem like an opportunity to vent about the situation but if you do, your are cutting 

off an avenue to escape the working relationship you want to get away from.  Present the 

facts, be neutral and highlight your problem-solving skills.

If you are concerned that your current boss will sabotage your efforts to find another job 

during the reference check stage you can solve this in a couple of ways.  If your boss is 

reasonable and the two of you just don’t work well together, chances are you don’t have 

to worry too much.  Be sure to give him or her a heads up though.  If you aren’t 

comfortable with this, try and find another manager that you have worked for in the 

company previously that you can pass on as a reference.

Preparing for a Job Interview

 Preparing for a Job Interview

It is completely natural to feel nervous before a job interview but you can minimize pre-

interview jitters with some preparation.  Hopefully you have completed initial research 

on the company you applied for before being called in for an interview but you are going 

to need to do more.  You will never know exactly what is going to be asked of you 

(unless you have an inside source), but you can be ready for the questions by knowing 

your stuff.

Look up the company website and study the history, about us page, and the products and 

services that are offered.  Even if you are pretty sure you are not going to be quizzed on 

how the company came to be, it will give you insight into how the company operates and 

their philosophy.  By of these factors should influence how you answer your questions. If 

it is obvious they place high value on team players, you should brainstorm situations 

when you have displayed this trait.  

If you are applying for a sales position, you can be prepared for any role playing 

questions because you have taken the time to learn the company’s products and services.  

It will be impressive to your interviewer that you have taken the time to research the 

information.  It shows a commitment to details and a true interest in the company.

Another way to prepare for an interview is to complete a practice run with a friend or 

family member.  Have them ask you questions and answer them as if you were already in 

the interview, don’t break character during the role play either.  There are many questions 

that are asked in a typical interview (what are your strengths and weaknesses) don’t let 

them come as a surprise to you – practice so you can answer with confidence.

Procedural Questions

Procedural Questions

 Procedures are a part of life, especially in the working world.  Each company has their 

own set of policies and rules that they expect their employees to follow.  An interviewer 

is going to ask questions to determine if you would do things they way they want (for 

instance making a sale or handling a customer complaint).  Without training, you will not 

know with any degree of certainty how the company would want you to handle different 

situations but there are ways to answer that can increase your chances of getting the job.

What an interviewer is looking for in an answer is your philosophy towards 

circumstances that occur in the company.  Your natural instincts and personality is going 

to come through at some point no matter what you have been trained to do.  Questions 

like, “How would you satisfy a customer if they wanted to return something after the 

return policy has expired?” can be tricky to answer.  The best way to answer them is to 

begin with saying, “Of course, if hired I would abide by the company’s guidelines – but 

in this circumstance I would…” 

By starting your answer with this phrase you are showing that you recognize a company 

is going to have its own policies and ways of doing things and that you are flexible 

enough to modify your way of doing things to align with those processes.  Even role 

playing scenarios for are a test to see if your way of thinking is in line with the 

company’s.  This genre of question can backfire on you though if your answer is 

completely opposite what the company is looking for.  If you have done your research on 

the company prior to the interview you should have a good idea of how they handle 

customers and sales in general.  

Responding to Taboo Questions

 

Responding to Taboo Questions

Not all interview questions are acceptable.  There are certain topics that should not be 

brought up and information that a potential employer has no right asking for.  Some of 

these questions are not legal and others while legal may leave you feeling uncomfortable.  

You do not have to answer certain questions, but how you let the interviewer know this 

can determine if your application will continue forward.

For more information on questions that should not be asked or that you do not have to 

answer, contact your local government office that handles labor relations.  They can 

provide these guidelines to you at no charge.  If questions are being asked about your 

private life (and you are uncomfortable answering them), you do not have to.  You can 

mildly tell the interviewer that you plan on devoting the time you spend at work to work 

and your personal life stays in your personal life.  And try to leave it at that.  If the 

interviewer keeps pressing, you will have to decide if the job is worth it to you. 

It is your decision to provide the information you do – know your rights beforehand – but 

you can still decide to answer a question that should not be asked.  Keep in mind that if a 

potential employer wants details about how you spend time outside of work it may be 

because they expect their employees to put in a lot of extra hours and they are trying to 

gauge if you have commitments that would prevent you from doing this.

Other questions, such as sexual orientation, past relationships, and other lifestyle choices 

have no business in an interview setting.  If there is a physical aspect to the job and a 

medical evaluation is necessary, this is typically done by a doctor or other medical 

professional who will give you clearance.  You do not have to provide details to the 

interviewer.

The Interview Questions You Need to Beat

 The Interview Questions You Need to Beat

Of course, how would you forget that day? That was the day when you understood what a sweaty palm is. Being in the hot seat in front of someone who would ask you questions that would determine an important factor of your future is a big pressure. 

 

There are easy-go-lucky questions that you could definitely answer with a seal of a kiss but there are those heart-pounding queries that would definitely make you dive the great ocean of nothingness in search for answers.

 

Bitterness check questions

 

When you are applying for a job, your job experience would definitely be a factor and the interviewee would definitely ask you about your past job/s or the current ones. Questions like, “why did you leave your job?” should be answered with brains. Never let your emotions rule and you may just say something that would sound like you are bitter. For example, the interviewer asks you about your past job, you do not have to say something against your ex-boss. When you do so, the interviewer would sense that you are being bitter, pushing the blame to others.

 

Makes you weak questions

 

There are questions like: “Why do you think we must hire you?” is something common but what if someone asks you “What is your biggest weakness?” you would surely be at pause. How to answer that? You have to stress that you are not considering your self that weak but you accept the fact that there are portions of you that are not that strong compared to the rest but you have to post an assurance that these weaknesses will not be a hump.

 

Strictly facts questions

 

Interviewers would ask you if you have tried some jobs or you have an experience on something about this activity. They would even let you demonstrate. For these questions, you just need to be honest as possible.

 

Carry these reminders and beat those kinds of questions!

The Panel Interview

 The Panel Interview

An interview is stressful; you are on display and have to sell yourself as the best 

candidate for a position in a company.  The only thing worse than an interview is the 

panel interview – when two or more people are asking you questions and watching your 

every move.  This situation may not intimidate everyone, but it is certainly not a 

comfortable position to be in.

The reason for a panel interview is to get the opinion of multiple people at the same time 

on the viability of a work candidate.  Typically the people that attend are from various 

departments within the company – a representative from human resources and the 

department that is hiring at a minimum.  This saves time and money for the company and 

lets them see how the candidates react under pressure.

When you are listening to questions during a panel interview, maintain eye contact with 

the person who is speaking.  Once the question has been asked, make sure to address your 

answer to all who are present.  Make eye contact with everyone and include them in your 

attention.  Be prepared for follow-up questions from any or all of the attendees.  Each one 

is going to want to know information from an angle that will directly affect their 

department.

You may find that in some panel interviews, only one person does the talking and 

everyone else is there simply to observe.  Still address all of your comments to the group 

and don’t let this unnerve you.  It is definitely stressful, but not unusual.  Be flattered that 

they consider you a strong enough candidate to gather more than one person to evaluate 

your interview and choose you to work for the company.  An interview is an investment 

for a company, an expenditure of money in the form of salaries; you are there because 

you have a chance at the position so take advantage of the opportunity.

What to do on job fairs and job interviews

 

What to do on job fairs and job interviews?

 

 

 

Having a stable job is an ultimate dream for every individual. It is because there is this unique dignity it brings for man. In a world of needs and competitions, it is an advantage to have a job- especially the job you enjoy.

 

However, pastures are not that green everywhere. Unemployment and underemployment are two of the leading social and economic problems in the modern times. To date, governments are struggling on how to give sufficient number of jobs for all. Every year the number of job-seekers increases but the number of jobs available is not that increasing as what it was expected to. Most localities hold job fairs to give opportunity for those are still looking for one.

 

A job fair you once neglected and did not believe to might have been the great twist for a lifetime. Are there good things on job fairs? Yes there are, and for you to win them, you have to take note of the following especially on how to make it on a job interview:

 

Have a picture of the job you want. Go to a job fair with a clear target. Think of what job, position and what are the skills you have in order to get the position you planned. You must also consider if these skills are valuable for an employer or employers. Attitude is another important element. Employers look for people who are zestful and willful towards work.

 

Prior to the job fair as well as the interview, be sure to plan ahead if who are the employers you want to work for. Dressing up for the fair or the interview is a helpful tip. Dress professionally and do not wear too much make up. Dress up in a conservative but decent way. Do not be too conscious and just carry your self with the confidence needed.

 

Do not forget to bring correct and credible resume. They serve as the mirror of what you are as an applicant- qualified or not. There are sites which could guide one in preparing a resume. You could visit these sites and seek help. Also, prepare an interesting yet sincere introduction. Besides your basic information, include your reason for applying, and the skills that are relevant to what the company looks for. Show how much you are interested with the job but never manifest your aim for salary above anything else.

 

This dictum is not true in all cases but try your best in order to build a good picture in the employer’s mind. “First impression lasts”- as many say.

What to Wear to a Job Interview

What to Wear to a Job Interview

Possibly even more stressful than the questions you are going to have to answer, you are 

going to have to find the perfect outfit to wear to a job interview.  You want to look 

professional and like you are going to fit in with the company.  A good rule of thumb for 

men is that you can’t overdress for the interview – shirt and tie or a suit is always a safe 

choice.  For women, picking the clothes is more challenging.

For both men and women, pick an outfit that you feel comfortable in and that fits you 

properly.  You don’t want pants that are too tight or a shirt that is too snug across the 

chest.  It will be a distraction for both you and your interviewer.  Along the same vein, 

pick colors that suit you but aren’t too bright or patterns that are overly bold.  You want 

the focus to be on your answers, not what you are wearing.

Remember too that your overall appearance is going to be judged, and this includes more 

than the clothes you are wearing.  Hygiene and grooming: be clean, neat and tidy.  It is 

probably best not to wear a strong scent – chances are you will be in a small room and it 

could make others uncomfortable.  Your finger nails should be short and clean, your hair 

clean and tidy, and have mints with you or brush your teeth immediately before leaving 

for the interview.

 

You may wonder what all of these details has to do with your qualifications and getting 

the job.  It has to do a lot with it, especially if you are going to be dealing with the 

company’s customers face-to-face.  The company will want to hire employees who are 

going to represent the company in the best possible light.