Come in There Swinging to Interview Curveballs

 

Prepping for an interview after college can range from paralyzing nervousness to arrogant overconfidence in oneself.  But one thing is for sure, first impressions aren’t everything in an interview, but the only thing.

It is advised that no matter how tough and open-ended the typical interview questions may be for you particular case, there are some important steps that you should take, pre-interview, to soften the blows of natural employer intimidation and your own nervousness…

1.   Being well-prepared will boost your confidence and lower your anxiety. Spend at least three hours preparing for each interview, and know the company’s latest actions, what it does, how it does it, and who its customers are.

2.  Draft answers to the most common interview questions and practice how you will respond with these answers.  By doing this it shows the interviewer that you are genuinely interested in the company and the position.

3.  Have good directions to the interview site in order to estimate the amount of time needed to get to the interview on time.   Being late is perhaps the one of the most preventable of all interview mistakes.

Below are some commonly difficult-to-answer interview questions and how best to craft your answers in a natural, not over-rehearsed way:

Why should we hire you?

This question gives you an open door to really market yourself.  Briefly go over your strengths, skills ors qualifications that you bring to the position discussed.  Try to come up with something that isn’t just “hard working and motivated.” Set yourself apart from this cliché response by expressing what unique qualities you have.

Why do you want to work here?

This question will reveal how prepared you are for the interview and how much you know the company.  Like expressed before, know the company, the industry, its customers, and its direction.  Matching your qualifications to the company’s direction or philosophy is a good strategy as well.

What are your greatest weaknesses?

Express a weakness of yours but show how you have improved upon it and turned it into strength of yours.  This shows that you are self-aware and self-correcting, showing even more initiative. 

Why did you leave your last job?

Be careful not to be too negative if in fact your last job ended that way.  Be diplomatic; find some positives to discuss along with negatives if your previous employment experience wasn’t so great. 

Describe a problem situation and how you solved it.

This question may be one of the most difficult if you’re just coming out of college and do not have much professional experience.  Effectively answering this question will review critical thinking and prioritization ability. 

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

Be specific with this one, and make sure that accomplishment relates to the position you applying for.  Think of the qualities that the company is looking for and demonstrate how through achieving that accomplishment you are meeting their needs. 

What are your salary expectations?

This question may be difficult for those with little experience, so research salary ranges in your field to get an idea.  DO NOT discuss salary expectations before being offered a job unless the employer asks for this information.  Let the interviewer know that you are negotiable about salary, if asked give a range rather than a specific number. 

Tell me about yourself.

This is the broadest of all the common questions asked during an interview.  Stay relevant because the employer is trying to read your professionalism.  Choose to discuss a couple key points (i.e. career goals and professional experience) and try to stick to those points. 

Here are some other common interview questions which may pose difficulty and may need additional preparedness…

1. What is your biggest pet peeve?
2. What can you do for us that someone else can’t?
3. Why should we hire you?
4. What do you look for in a job?
5. What do you think your responsibilities should be?
6. How long will it take you to make a meaningful contribution to this company?
7. How long do you intend to stay with this company?
8. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
9. What is your biggest failure?
10. What do you think of your previous employer?
11. What do you think you are worth?
12. Are you successful?
13. What types of individuals do you have difficulty working with?
14. Are you a team player?
15. Do you prefer to work alone or be a part of a team?
16. How did you prepare for this interview?
17. Do you feel you are over or under-qualified?
18. How has your education prepared you for your career?
19. If you had to live your life over again, what would you change
20. Describe yourself in five words.