Interview questions

1. From a Yahoo! NEWS article on January 6, 2011, quoting from a U.S. News & World
Report article by Tim Tyrell-Smith, founder of Tim’s Strategy, a site that help
professionals succeed in job searching strategies.
How to Rock Your Next Job Interview
It’s easy to get nervous before a job interview, especially if you haven’t had one for a
while. And if you’ve been out of work for an extended period of time, each opportunity
to interview become increasingly important, adding to the pressure.
But with a new year comes a fresh start. And your next interviewer knows nothing of
your past mistakes. So take the time to prepare using these tips, and you’ll walk into
your next interview confident and ready to put your best foot forward.
Here’s how to rock your next interview:
1. Be yourself. It’s temping to morph during an interview. To tweak an answer to
tell the story you think someone wants to hear. To say you like to work
independently when you don’t. Tell your true story and let your true personality
shine through. If the job is really a good match, you’ll fare better by being
yourself.
2. Learn to enjoy the interview. We don’t have many chances to compete in life
anymore. But a job interview is a chance to show off what you can do for a new
team. Relish this opportunity even during the interview itself and prove yourself
to a new crowd.
3. Engage your interviewer. An interview should be a two-way dialogue, where
both parties get a chance to ask probing questions. So ask away! And don’t be
afraid to ask tough questions. When you engage your interviewer, your interview
is more likely to become a business discussion and less of an interrogation.
4. Forget the odds are not in your favor. It doesn’t matter if five other candidates
have already interviewed for the job. And you can forget the five who will
interview after you, too. Those factors are out of your control, so put those
thoughts away and interview without restriction.
5. Fill your head with victories. Instead of thinking about your shortcomings, play
a “best of” reel in your head when you have breaks during the day. Focus your
mind on days or hours when you were on top of the world, loved by everyone as
the rainmaker or problem-solver. You’re offering this new company your best, so
that’s all you need to showcase.
6. Get ready, then let go. Of course it’s possible to over-prepare for a job
interview. But you can also forget to transition from preparation to execution. So
when it comes time to do the talking, put all the preparation tools away so you can
relax and focus on your goal.
7. Get to know your audience in advance. You can ask better questions if your
know something about your interviewers. Researching them will also help you
prepare for any questions they’ll ask you. To find information about a company

2. or hiring manager, use LinkedIn and Google. And expect the employer to do the
same research on you.
8. Bring a few great stories. Everyone loves a good story. And interviewers love
true and compelling stories of how you helped a business. Prepare a positive
story (situation, action, and result) based on a key event in your past. Be sure you
can identify the specific role you played.
9. Smile at everyone you meet. A confident smile shows you’re relaxed and happy
to be there. But it also can prompt a reaction from people you meet. If they don’t
smile back you’ve learned something.
10. Watch and listen for key signals. Is the office busy? Vibrant? Social? Compare
what you see and hear to your workplace preferences. Whether it’s a good or bad
fit, you’ve learned something about the company culture.
11. Show genuine interest and passion. Results form recent job interview research
suggest that your passion and excitement for the position really does matter. So
when you feel it, show it. This is likely to positively influence an interviewer and
change the mood in the room.
12. Focus on the first five minutes. Most interviewers say they know in the first
five minutes whether the candidate is a good fit for the job. Your handshake, first
few answers, and body language all have the potential to signal strength during a
job interview. Have a great “first five” and you’re in good shape!
13. Try the company’s products. If you’re interviewing with a company that makes
a product or service you can touch or experience, get your hands on it. Test it and
be ready to share your experience.
14. Slide up your dimmer switch. Sometimes you need a mental gimmick to shake
off the nerves, pull you up, and get your light to shine. Just before walking in the
front door, mentally slide up your dimmer switch, and engage the first person you
meet with a confident smile.
15. Be honest. An occasional “I don’t know” will not ruin your chances at landing
the job. Nor is it destructive to admit to not having a certain experience.
Delivering the truth says you’re comfortable and confident with what you know
and what you can do.