INTERVIEWER QUESTION & ANSWER

Carole Martin, The Interview Coach

Question: How do you stay current and informed about industry trends and technology?”

Possible answers – which one do you think is the best:

(A) I do all the standard things. I read the business section of the newspaper daily. I research the Internet for information on the industry. I attend a local networking organization and subscribe to an industry journal. I belong to a professional organization and attend monthly meetings to network and stay in touch. I really like what I do, and so it is interesting to me to learn and keep current with the ever-changing world we live in.

(B) I use the Internet and check the news sites to see what is happening in the world. I don’t get around to the newspaper, but I do subscribe to a weekly news magazine that keeps me up to date fairly well. I feel that I am more informed than the average person.

(C)There isn’t much time left in the day after my long work hours. I have been working overtime for the past year. My busy life does not allow for much more than watching the evening news to catch up with the latest happenings. I always read my company’s newsletters and the bulletins it sends out to keep in touch with what’s happening in the company.

If you chose A, you are correct – A is the strongest answer, why?

(A)This answer has a very natural, relaxed tone to it, yet it covers every possible base and states that ou are a person who is “out there” and informed. By being nvolved in groups and organizations you also are widening your network, which is the number one way to get a job. Of course, in your interview you’d give the specific names of newsletters and organizations.

The mediocre answer is B

(B) This answer is not a bad one; it just limits your information by the sources you use to stay informed. You are correct that you are probably more informed than the average person, but you are competing to be above-average in the interview process. Often a company is seeking someone who is connected to the industry and looks at the groups to which you belong.

The weakest answer is C

(C) Although this might be a “real” answer, this is not the strongest position to be in as an informed person. Regardless of the position you hold in a company, staying informed about the latest trends and issues is crucial for job success.

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Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.