What resources have you guys found most effective in preparing for job interview questions? I have an important phone interview coming up next week but I'll admit it's been awhile since I've had an interview so I'm rusty

3/31/2009 1:47:23 AM

Ah, really I just thumb through what was on the resume I sent them and make sure I remember all the details from the previous experience I have listed.

I answer truthfully off the top of my head as quickly as I can come to a reasonable answer for their question and ask any questions about what I might be doing, how my coworkers and I will be working together, or whatever to get a better idea of what I'll be doing with this company.

3/31/2009 2:40:10 AM

Yeah, I think I'm going to have to just do a lot of research into the position. I'm trying to change careers right now and so I'm not actually 100% sure I know what this job I'm interviewing for entails. The guy said in the email it's only going to be about 30 minutes on the phone so hopefully that means he won't ask too many detailed questions.

3/31/2009 2:42:58 AM

1)i would suggest making a list of questions you have , since they always ask if you have any questions.
2) i would go back over you resume as suggested but i would also back over the company profile and the job description. try to draw parallels in your experience and what the company is looking for when answering questions about your resume.
3) relax

i'm actually un-employed right now so i'm no expert but those are my suggestions. maybe if you get a job you can put in a word for hr for me

3/31/2009 2:52:36 AM

ahh that's a good idea on the parallels. I'm lucky that it's a phone interview; I can put some cheat sheets in front of me

3/31/2009 2:57:03 AM

make sure that you have some good intelligent questions for HIM

3/31/2009 7:51:48 AM

it depends on the position i'm interviewing for but the ones that i think are universal are to research the company - know your resume very well and be able to elaborate on every part of it - think of an answer to the question "why do you want to work for _____?"

3/31/2009 8:26:42 AM

I had a first round last Friday that is normally a phone interview but they brought me in anyway because it was local. It last about 40 minutes and I think the only one that really caught me off guard was a cliche one - "Where do you see yourself in five years?" So, my opinion on that one would be to have a dual answer, one part where you tell them how you'd envision yourself in their company and maybe in general.

About half the rest of the time he went down my resume and asked me questions from it that I elaborated on. So, be well prepared to talk about anything you have on there. I had a key point about some sorta important stuff I did at my last employer that he went in to a little detail about and then the other half of the time he was telling me about their product and what type of issues they have had with it and what to expect from the job function.

3/31/2009 8:38:31 AM

Remember to Smile! No one wants to be in a boring interview on either side of the equation.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
-Long Term Goals Question: I usually geared my answers towards the company's vision, while focusing on my growth potential and tieing in my resume in every way that I can. This question should be easy for you, because as long as your answer doesn't include "Being your boss," you're golden. Actually, on second thought, keep in mind that setting your goals high shows that you have ambition and drive, but setting them too high suggests that you could be a short-timer or just crazy. Try to find the balance between the two.

What was the most difficult problem you worked on throughout your career, and how did you resolve it?
-Abstract Experience and Work Ethic question: These types of questions are meant to test your communication skills without relying on your resume. Try to pick the most appealing true story you can muster that sheds the brightest light on you. I picked a story where I was the hero that saved the day, but I also remembered to mention the help I received from my co-workers and manager. They love hearing that, suckers.

If you disagree with upper-management during a meeting, how would you communicate that?
-Basic conflict resolution employeer/employee question, trying to gauge your personality and professionalism at the same time. The way I decided to answer this was by going to the manager personally after the meeting and expressing my concerns. They love hearing this too, because it keeps the chain of command solid, while also maintaining the communication apparatus that is needed for managers to be in the know.

Tell me something about yourself, what do you like to do in your free-time?
Softball Question: Ironically, these can be the toughest to answer. I always kept it very Political Correct. My answers were walk my dog, mountain biking, going to the movies, swimming. This is another question where there is no right answer, but there are several wrong answers.

We have several equally qualifed people applying for this position, what seperates you from the pack?
The Straight Question: Typically you need to be careful in how you answer this one. Remember, it's a balance. You don't want to come across as arrogant, conceded, condescending, or anything like that. I answered this question by focusing on my personality and ability to work well with others to acheive common goals. However, depending on the competition, you may need to resort to your resume for more support. Furthermore, I would say that passion is the most important part of your answer. It is vital that you make them believe that you want to work there more than anyone else.

[Edited on March 31, 2009 at 9:20 AM. Reason : -]

3/31/2009 9:15:58 AM

^Agreed on the passion part, you MUST convey that you have a passion for what you are doing.

Additionally, do plenty of research on the company beforehand. Make yourself familiar with their major projects, as well as whatever project you will be working on.

Have some questions to ask the interviewer. One I always asked in the past was "What made you decide to work here?"

If they ask the question "What is your biggest weakness?" don't say that you are a perfectionist.

3/31/2009 9:41:48 AM

^ for the "what is your biggest weakness" question, i've heard a good strategy is finding something that you've struggled at, but you are already working to make it better, then give examples of what you've done to get better.
e.g. "i used to have a hard time expressing disagreements with other people, but then at my last job I did ____ to make it better, and I gained confidence and now it's not much of a problem"

3/31/2009 9:45:55 AM

What is your greatest Strength/Weakness?
Standard Strength/Weakness Question: This question for me was fairly easy to answer, but I answered this question off the top of my head and perhaps got lucky by being clever. Basically, I first spoke about my strengths, which are working well with others, reaching goals as a team, and being persistent/tenacious until resolving an issue. For my greatest weakness, I cited my strength. I flipped my strength on it's head and showed how being a team player by nature and diving into issues can often times cause me more headaches in the end. As a result of being persistent and tenacious, I tend to involve myself in issues where I don't belong. Too many hands in the pot so to speak. This seemed to work very well for me. Be careful though, because the answer to this type of question depends on your profession. In my case, it worked well. For many of you, this will not work as well. However, I do suggest doing something similiar, but not identical. Try to link your strengths and weaknesses. That way you come across as consistent throughout and the employeer will see a measurable way for you to improve upon yourself, without expressing a clear weakness that turns you into a black sheep in comparison to the pack.

[Edited on March 31, 2009 at 10:11 AM. Reason : -]

3/31/2009 10:10:40 AM

I hear the best way to answer the weakness question is to state your weakness is something WAY outside of the position requirements. Like if you're applying to be a research tech at a small company, say something like "I am uncomfortable with speaking in front of VERY LARGE audiences, but I'm working to improve that by doing X and Y"

3/31/2009 3:50:38 PM

Have space to walk around in

Almost everyone I know thinks better when they're walking around than just sitting there

I've worn groove marks into my carpet from the paths I take while on the phone

If I'm forced to sit still, I'll draw a blank

It seems like a small thing, but it makes all the difference for me and lots of others

3/31/2009 3:55:15 PM