Answering the Tough Job Interview Questions

Robin Ryan

Kevin was a well seasoned Project Manager looking for a new job. He entered the interview feeling confident that his resume was strong enough to land him the job. The company set up a panel interview, so Kevin walked into the office and sat in front of five people. The first question asked was: “Tell us about your most impressive contribution that you’ve made at your current company.”  Kevin simply froze. He couldn’t think of a good example in those few seconds and sadly realized he’d lost the job by not being better prepared. Continue Reading

Ranking Yourself: Be Confident yet Self-Aware

Nathan Stuller of Midwest Developer Insights

A common interview tactic is to ask you, the candidate, to rank yourself on acquired technical skills, attributes, and aptitude. The interviewer may run through a list of them, asking you to simply “rank yourself from 1 to 10 on:”
• Leadership ability
• Getting along with coworkers
• How hard-working you are

Or, they may be interested in more specific technical skills such as:
• Differential Equations
• Electricity & Magnetism
• Computer-Aided Design (CAD)

You are right to suspect that the answer is not as easy as it might seem, especially for someone with limited professional experience. Continue Reading

Technical/Computer Interview Questions to Ask

Carole Martin, The Interview Coach

Question:

In a Technical/Computer interview, what are the best questions to ask? I know salary and benefits are taboo.

Answer:

You will be able to adapt this advice to your technical/computer interviews.

At some point, usually at the conclusion of the interview, you may be asked, “Do you have any questions?” A common answer to this question is, “No, I think you’ve covered everything very well.” This is the wrong answer! You have passed up your opportunity to ask some critical questions that may make a difference as to whether you want to work for this company. Continue Reading

Why Has It Taken You So Long To Find a Job?

Carole Martin, The Interview Coach

It’s difficult to believe that employers are still asking this type of question. Don’t they read the newspapers or listen to the news? If they were informed, they would know the answer; i.e. jobs are very scarce and difficult to find these days, and unemployment is at an all time high since 1994 – in some areas reaching 10% – 11% in some states.

Unfortunately, quoting these facts probably wouldn’t get you a job offer and could even result in the interview ending rather quickly. So, what is the correct answer to give an interviewer when you’re asked such a question? There is no “correct” answer. However, a technique that works well is to take the focus off the length of your job search and to place it on what you have to offer. Continue Reading

Don’t Bring Your Baggage Into The Job Interview

Carole Martin, The Interview Coach

The truth is that you may have very good reason to have baggage regarding the interview. You may feel frustrated and angry about today’s job market. A job market that doesn’t feel “user friendly.” But here’s the hard part – you’ve got to let go of all that before you go into an interview.

Going into an interview with baggage is like dragging a big black garbage bag along behind you and parking it next to your chair during the interview. And it is going to start to “stink” after awhile. Nobody wants to hear about your problems and baggage. Some people’s lives begin to sound like a Soap Opera; there have been so many extenuating circumstances. You may have been treated unfairly in your last job – had a jerk for a boss. But, please – don’t feel compelled to share every detail with the interviewer. It’s a Big Mistake if you do. Continue Reading

Interview Q&A Why Should We Hire You

Carole Martin, The Interview Coach

Question:

I have been unemployed for over a year. I am highly skilled n qualified but cannot seem to get hired.
My question is how do I respond to the final question, “why should we hire you?”

I cover my extensive background and skills that apply to the position but to date, remain unemployed.

Thank you in advance for your time and reply. Continue Reading

How 2013 College Students Are Scoring Interviews Better Than 2012 Grads

Natalie Bracco

The idea that today’s college graduates are facing an impossible battle when it comes to finding a job is largely exaggerated. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2013 graduates have better prospects of getting a job than their 2012 counterparts. While it’s true that high unemployment has made things more challenging for all job seekers, there are actually several ways that 2013 college grads are able to distinguish themselves and ace the application process. Continue Reading

Do You Have “Dirty Little Secrets” You Would Like To Avoid In The Job Interview?

Carole Martin, The Interview Coach

Maybe you were fired or laid off – under “not-to-pleasant” circumstances, or maybe you quit un-expectantly?

Whatever the reason – there is something or some things that you’d rather not talk about in the job interview. Not only have you had a bad experience, but now you have to talk about it – again and again.

How you deal with these questions will depend a lot on how you have resolved the issue with yourself. In order to answer these types of questions effectively it will be important to deal with your issue ahead of time. The best way to do that is to think about and script an answer. Continue Reading

Start the New Year With a WINNING Job Interview!

Jimmy Sweeney, President of CareerJimmy

Holiday shopping, decorating, eating, and entertaining are over. It’s time now to get down to business—the business of landing a job interview that will lead to the employment you’ve been preparing for.

Establish an Action Plan

Keep in mind that every outstanding job starts with an outstanding interview! Following is a list of action points to employ so you’ll be ready when the hiring manager calls to request an appointment. Continue Reading

13 Worst Interview Blunders of 2012

Inexperience with proper interview etiquette or the pressure to make a lasting impression on a prospective employer can sometimes cause workers to show surprising errors in judgment. Hiring managers provided real-life examples of the most peculiar behaviors they witnessed in job interviews: Continue Reading