There are a couple of questions I've always had some trouble with that are always asked. I try to plan ahead for them, but I just never seem to find an answer I'm comfortable with.
1. Tell me about yourself. My question? What exactly is it you want to know? What kind of information do you want?
2. What did you not like about your last job/boss? I always thought it was inappropriate to say negative things about your previous employer in an interview. My resume says who I worked for last, so I thought it was unprofessional to say negative things about it. How do you handle this question?
2007-01-09 06:27:34 · 6 answers · asked by Lady in Red 4 in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment
Most people who ask for my advice come with the same problem. How to answer questions like these two above.
Question 1: "Tell me about yourself" nightmare :) Most employees have the impression the answer to this question refers to personal details (married with kids, living with mother etc etc). By no means are you to give these details, unless you are being asked for, which is not right from the part of an interviewer. This question refers in fact to the displaying of your major traits and skills, skills which will benefit the company and the post you are seeking for.
http://www.cvtips.com/interview_question_1.html
Question 2. Tricky question, because a lot of job seekers start to complain about their previous boss/job, thus forgetting the interviewer actually dislikes people who complain a lot. Right?
You can answer this question by turning a negative answer into a positive appearing answer. For example, instead of saying "I simply hated my boss who would ask so many things etc etc", you can embrace diplomacy and say "I have achieved everything it could be achieved in the respective company, and felt I couldn't evoluate further more. I find your company as being challenging and giving the employers the possibility to develop themselves professionally etc etc"
A Bravo! for you because you want to be prepared. Good luck!
2007-01-10 03:10:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell me about yourself. My question? What exactly is it you want to know? What kind of information do you want?
I want you to tell me why I should hire you and what makes you great for this job. At the beginning of any TV show, there is a preview in which they have a very short period o time to convince you to keep watching the show. Think of this question in the same way. This your chance to, in a few sentences, convince me that you are the best one for this job by highlighting your strengths and achievements as they relate to this jobs. For example, if I was interviewing you to be a Store Manager for a Clothing store and I asked you this question, your naswer might be:
"I have 6 years of retail experience and 3 years of retail management experience. I am known as being a hardworker who demands the highest performance of my associates. I have achieved sales goals in the past 6 quarters and have decreased turn over in my store from 5% to 2% by rewarding employees for positive performance with lunch discounts and kind words. I am the recipient of the employee of the quarter award twice and am personally seeking an opportunity which would give me the chance to be promoted up the corporate scale and to work with a company where my hard work, loyalty, and job performance could result in a lifelong career"
2. What did you not like about your last job/boss? I always thought it was inappropriate to say negative things about your previous employer in an interview. My resume says who I worked for last, so I thought it was unprofessional to say negative things about it. How do you handle this question?
Focus on the positive. Say something like that you always appreciated the things that your boss taught you and that he/she had both strengths and weaknesses as we all do but that you have reached a point where you believe that you have learned all that you can and you are ready to move onto a new challenge with advancement opportunities and one where you boss is also very promotable so that as your boss gets promoted, you could be promoted to fill his/her shoes
2007-01-09 06:38:31 · answer #2 · answered by angihorn2006 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1. When an employer asks "Tell me about yourself", she's not asking about your family, your hobbies, your social life, etc. What she wants to know is what brought you to that company to apply for a job. Educational background, employment experience and interest in that particular company's industry is what the employer is trying to find out about you, not that you're a Pisces who loves long walks on the beach at sunset while listening to Beyonce on your i-Pod.
2. What didn't you like about your last job/boss? That's a fair question, but the answer could ruin your chance at getting the job. You're absolutely right about not wanting to badmouth a former job/boss-it makes you look bad in the process. Instead, spin it by saying that while your last job/boss was okay, you feel that you have reached your full potential at that job and would like more responsibility and a chance to fully utilize your skills (and be prepared to elaborate on what responsibilities and skills you're referring to).
Hope that helps!
2007-01-09 06:37:04 · answer #3 · answered by SuzeY 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Your first questions you should mention about personal characteristics and skills.
Your second questions, you are exactly that is inappropriate, but mention about the strenghths of the company, the strenghths of the managers and employers.
There are lot of good books to help with interview questions. It's book called 101 Toughest Interviews Questions by Ron Fry.
There are many websites that can help you with interviews questions. Check with you college/universitiy career center they have great information on jobs, resumes, interviews, etc..
Here are a couple of websites that I go to for help
http://www.collegegrad.com
http://www.rileyguide.com
http://www.susanireland.com
http://www.jobweb.com/
http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/interviewquestion/Interview_Questions_to_Ask.htm
2007-01-09 06:42:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Here's an answer for the first quesion. Think of it as a verbal business card. This is your chance to shine, to really sell yourself. Don't say something like, "Well, I grew up in Boston and I have a pet, Fluffy....". Don't tell your life story, but SELL yourself. Don't hold back in this question.
2007-01-09 06:32:24 · answer #5 · answered by Mallory 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
"Does the job provided to me good enough to make a difference to the company's share provided that I do my job very well?" in other words does this job give you the opportunity to "fight in the battle" instead of just "assisting" someone at the back
2016-05-22 23:22:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋