Interview Questions??

Question

In your past interview how have you answered the following question??

Tell me about yourself
Do you consider yourself successful?
Why do you want to work for this organization?
What kind of salary do you need?
How would you sell a product to the customer?
Are you willing to work in a team enviornment?
What can you offer this company?
Why should we hire you??

Thanks!!

Answer 1

It's important to have a plan (a theme of information you want to convey) so that you never appear stunned (at a loss for words) or babbling incessantly about "nothing". For instance, at the outset "Tell me about yourself" I would give a brief biography of past employment responsibilities, civic (volunteer work)efforts, and personal endeavors that advanced a single quality...team work. They don't need or want your history since birth, but they are drawn to thematic connectivity between one question to the next. "Do you consider yourself successful?" This question is an insightful one that gives glimpses of your personality....are you an optimist or a pessimist? Your answer to this self assessment speaks volumes, so answer thoughtfully...again, while advancing your primary theme. "Why do you want to work for this organization?" In my opinion this is the least effective question in the interview, but if you've done some research about the company (and you should), it's an excellent time to let little tidbits of what you know slip out incidentally, along with your personal impression that the teamwork dynamic within this organization is top-notch. (BS question, but hey, you have to play the game, right?) "What kind of salary do you need?" Answer this question based on your assessment of where you are professionally at this point in time. I usually say something to the effect of..."this point is negotiable because I'm confident I'll demonstrate my value to this firm in no uncertain terms, but I think XXX to be a fair starting point." (Aim high, but not ridiculously high. You want to communicate the fact that you place value on your marketability and experience, but you don't want to be so high you're excluded from further consideration. This is another area where advanced research on salaries within the firm will be very beneficial to you). (Note: professional certifications, credentials, education, and experience make you more marketable and you should appear aware of this reality, but your situation may be such that you offer those skills at a premium just to get your foot in the door.) This is usually not nearly as significant a question to them as it is to you because they have a detailed budget already in place. They just largely want to gauge your response. "How would you sell a product to the customer?" This is a basic question, and your response should model listening,courtesy, attentiveness, and an ability to anticipate a customer's needs. These are important skills to develop, for sure, but not particularly critical in the interview. So just be general and thorough. (A casual mentioning of the sales team,with liberal statements referring to "our" this and "we" that work in your favor by continuing the team theme). "Are you willing to work in a team environment?" Well of course you are, and you've been waiting all day for a question like that. No sublties required here...this speaks directly to your theme, so give it to them! "What can you offer this company?" Here's where you reiterate your effectiveness at producing as a team member. It's entirely appropriate to cite brief (BRIEF) examples of your having done this in past endeavors, and identify any leadership experience you may have (supervisory, managerial, military, etc.). "Why should we hire you?" This is your powerful closing statement that ties all of your previous points together concisely but dynamically. No need to go into new territory, just sum up your commitment to team productivity and work ethics. Let them know that you have been an asset on every team you've been a part of, and you expect to demonstrate this same benefit to them as well. End of story. I hope this helps; good luck.

Answer 2

Tell me about yourself - meaning speak of your education and experience, not personal issues.

Successful - yes, because I work very hard and give 100% to everything I do. I never leave at the end of the day and think I did not give it my all.

Why work - because the company's reputation in this area is very good (ie good culture, good benefits, room for advancement, etc)

Salary - I would need to look at everything offered - costs of benefits, etc. before giving you a firm number. I currently make $X a year and would not want to leave for the same amount of money or take a step back in salary.

Sell product - I've never been in sales, can't help you here

Team enviroment - I think that is a great way to work since you can count on your fellow employees and since everyone has strengths that are not the same it makes the workplace more successful.

Offer company - hard work, dedication, a good work history, conscientiousness

Why hire me - because you won't find an employee who will work any harder than I do.

Answer 3

You're obviously looking for 'gen X' employees. These questions are horribly mundain. The more generational savvy employers are asking more important questions.

What are your long term goals?
How can we help you to attain those goals?
Where do we fit in to those goals?
Do you have any aspirations to do study in this area in the future?

Also questions that make the person show their creativity, such as, why are man hole covers round as opposed to square?

How do you think m&ms are made?

With such low unemployment figures, you need to set yourself apart from the next interviewer... and the last.