10 Steps for Conducting Effective Interviews

In many ways, interviewers have the odds stacked against them before they even sit down with the ideal candidate. Picture this. A job opens up and needs to be filled yesterday. The job description is sketchy at best. The organization wants someone who can do double duty, that job and possibly others. The ad results in thousands of resumes, and there are a lot that fill the requirements.

The first interview which is a phone interview eliminates some, but still leaves a lot that are "ideal." There is no set guideline in place to assist in setting up the interviews, so the interviewer starts booking 10 interviews per day. There are no interview questions or tests in place to help vet the candidates and, by the end of the first day, the interviewer has no idea who was even in the interview with her. So before she even starts, she is in trouble. Here are some suggestions that could have made her interviews more organized and fruitful.

Know what you are interviewing for. Make sure the job description is current and has enough detail in it.

Don't be pressured to fill the position right away, take the time to prepare for the interview by writing up an ad that vets folks who are applying for every job available. The ad should state the salary, job expectations, and educational requirements.

Organize the resumes by salary needed, job experience, interests and by professionalism.

Create an interview guide of behavioural interview questions based on job competencies. The guide should cover at least six areas including integrity. Each competency should have three questions with room to write under each question. Each question should have a number of follow-up questions to probe deeper.

Book no more than five interviews per day. Allow one hour per interview and time to write follow-up thoughts and, of course, time to eat.

If interviewing for a web designer ask them to create something, if interviewing for a bus driver have them drive through a set up driving course, if interviewing for a trainer have them conduct a short course. Test the candidates in the skills they have to perform on the job.

Once the final five or so candidates have been chosen have those people go through a second interview with another interviewer or take part in a panel interview. More and different behavioural interview questions are asked and this process will identify the perfect person to fill that job.

Another idea is to invite the team they will be working with to meet them and to conduct final interview questions.

If everything in the reference checks match up, and the interviewers all agree, offer the candidate the job.

Keep all interview guides of all the people interviewed to avoid problems down the road.

Top 5 Typical Interview Questions and How to Answer Them Quickly

When you go for a job interview, at whatever company, you know there are some things that come up again and again, those typical interview questions. Or you should know that! If you haven't thought about how you are going to deal with these, your chances of landing the job you want have greatly decreased.

1) How do you react to criticism? Can you describe a situation where your work or idea was criticized? What sorts of things do you criticize in other people?

Dangerous typical interview questions! Be careful, because this sort of questions simultaneously check your weaknesses and your ability to handle criticism. Do not describe poor job, because it costs money and the employer won't like such example! Invoke your fancy. You may forget about your past and to create a new way you handle the criticism "on-the-fly" If nothing comes in your mind, tell that you always separate the feelings from the idea and you are trying to get the most from the person who criticized you. I believe you may tell that criticism is invaluable source for self-improvement.

2)Can you take instructions without feeling upset?

A standard manageability question. According to Martin Yate, "if you take offense easily or bristle when your mistakes are pointed out, you won't last long with any company." Answer that you "can take constructive criticism without feeling hurt."

3) Will you fight to get ahead?

Again, this is a good question and, as such, quite dangerous. You should take your time and ask what does the interviewer mean, professional interests or career. In either case, this question is more likely to be asked for team leading positions. Sometimes, it may be asked to test your manageability, team-playing skills and self-confidence.

4)What motivates you the most?

Cooperative management, steady team of strong professionals and encouraging the positive results. You may also mention the challenging task/job is a motivating factor.

5) Just what does success mean to you? How would you judge it?

Success is an ability to perform the given task in time with high quality. Successful accomplishment of the task is a huge stimulating factor by itself. With clearly defined task, there is no problem to judge the success.

Think about some of these areas and have your responses in mind. Making a card with bullet points on and taking it to the interview to read through beforehand is a good idea that has worked for me. Get there early and run through it.

These are just some starting points and remember there are many other typical interview questions.

Questions For Job Interview Success

Job interviews are meant to be tricky and with the economy in the state it is in a lot of people are looking for new work. Giving the right answers to questions during that short interview can make the difference between employment and hardship.

The decision to hire or not usually comes down to how you perform with the general interview questions that are sure to be asked. Some of these standard interview questions for the job are:

    Why did you leave your last job?

    Why have you had so many jobs in the past few years?

    Can you explain this gap in your working history?

    What are your long term career goals?

    What do when dealing with people you dislike?

Once a collection of these type of questions start, you are really past the friendly chit chat stage that failed to put you at your ease. You can feel the temperature of the room increase to boiling point and your palms start to sweat.

Even though you thought up good answers when you were at home, under the pressure of the interviewer you mind most likely will go blank. You open your dry mouth and start to mumble answers that fail to make much sense to you and even less to your inquisitor.

In panic you begin to talk even faster, churning out half baked answers and you can feel the sweat start to trickle down you back. Your heart pounds in your chest and you long for it to be over. It's a vain hope, like wishing the dentist would finally put away that drill but they enjoy the torture too much and more questions follow. Your answers fail to impress.

After what seems like hours they finally jot down some notes, peer over their glasses and thank you for your time. Drained and exhausted you un-stick your dehydrated body from the soaked chair, forget to wipe your sweating palm and press it into their outstretched hand.

You can almost feel the steam rising from your collar as you unhurriedly rush for the door and freedom. You glimpse the interviewer holding his head in is hands as you leave without the prospect of a new job.

How to Answers The Tough Interviewing Questions: Prepare Yourself Before Time

"What will my answers the tough interviewing questions be"? This dilemma is the one common source of anxiety shared by every job seeker who ever lived. The solution, however, to the dilemma does not start with trying to memorize every conceivable interview question and response. This concern is so pervasive that it should be addressed beginning at the most basic point. That point is actually the answer to yet another question which is, "how well do I know the product that I am selling?" Right now, you are probably wondering "what in the world are they asking? What is this product that you are talking about and who is selling anything? I am not a sales person!"

Yes, You Are A Sales Person

The simple and direct truth is that you are both the salesperson and the product. If you are not a sales professional by trade, you have to become one to execute a successful job search. You, as the interviewee are selling you, the product, to your potential buyer, the interviewer. As any good sales person knows, you have to know your product inside and out and be able to explain the product features that deliver the benefits sought by the potential buyer. Knowing yourself intimately will help you deliver the answers to the tough interviewing questions.

Personal Career Data File

So, just how well do you know yourself? In order to experience a successful job search, don't leave the answer to this question to chance. Prepare yourself by creating a Personal Career Data File consisting of individual information sheets for every job that you have ever held regardless of the tenure. This includes summer jobs and internships. Your performance and experience in every job yields information about your native abilities, people skills, resourcefulness, leadership talents, subject matter knowledge and more. Take the time to get a detailed look at yourself by recording and analyzing your employment/service history and experiences. If you prepare the data file in a thoughtful, comprehensive manner, it will make you an expert on your most important product...YOU.

Once completed, the file will be a resource for your use in:

Creating a general resume

Creating position specific resumes

Providing as a source of information to professional resume writers

Preparing for every conceivable type of employment interview

How to Answer Tough Interview Questions About Team Leadership

All interviewers are looking for the next leader for their organization. They are not keen in investing their time recruiting and training someone who wants to come in and watch the clock all day. A team leader possesses a number of key attributes and they expect you to know what these are.

So what are the job interview questions about team leadership?

Job interview questions on communication skills

How do you communicate with your team? Communication is key to any job and in particular as a leader, you need to be able to set out the strategy and the execution of it. Your team members will need to be clear on what is expected from them. The more they know, the better they can perform. They must also have a channel to communicate with you. Also, you will need to be able communicate your team's progress to your senior management.

Job interview questions on planning skills

Every team needs a plan and as a leader you will be ultimately responsible for devising a plan with your team and executing it. A good plan is only possible if all the requirements are understood. You should always ensure that your plans are realistic and not too aggressive. Make sure that your team under your leadership preempts as many as the risks as possible up front. Have a few points ready for the interview on your approach.

How to answer interview questions on motivation skills

All good leaders need to be able to motivate their staff. It is important that you encourage the team in their daily tasks and their long term careers. The team should want to work for you. At the interview, the interviewer will be very keen to know how you execute on this and how successful you have been to date.

Job Interview Preparation: The Key To Getting The Job Offer!

Job interview preparation is common sense. We know the value of preparing the used car or boat so it will sell for the highest possible price. We clean it up, polish the chrome, replace broken parts and research the prices of similar vehicles. All to make sure we get the highest price and quickest sale.

Why then do so many think they can go into a job interview with little or no preparation? Getting the right job and working at it for over 20 years could mean a million or more dollars in additional income compared to getting the wrong job. Why wouldn't you spend the time and effort in interview preparation to possibility generate thousands in additional income in a job you love?

Interview preparation is not just considering how to answer a series of tough questions. It ranges from your appearance, to company and industry research to a well written thank-you letter after the interview to proper job interview follow-up.

To often the job hunter is so elated at getting the job interview that they neglect the preparation. The interview will be about their qualifications, and who knows more about that than the candidate, they reason. So they go into the interview and get beat out by the more prepared competitor who has less job related skills and qualifications.

Don't let this happen to you. Here are some ideas to become the best prepared among all the candidates.

1. Research the employer's needs. Carefully read the job announcement. Search for others working at the prospective employer to get a better feel for the internal work climate. Talk to others working in a similar job at other employers and find out what key requirements make others successful in the job.

Plan to ask questions in the interview to increase your understanding of needs of the position. All will help you in answering questions so you frame the answers to provide assurance to the interviewer that you are the one who can do the job. Further, this will provide the necessary empathy to help you connect with the interviewer.

2. You must have a high level of interest in the job. A keen interest in the position will leave no doubt in the interviewers mind that you are excited about the prospect of getting the job.

Ask for the job at the end of the interview and in your thank-you letter express additional interest in the job. Enthusiasm in doing the job, you are looking forward to the challenges involved will many times push you ahead of the candidate who neglects this vital step.

3. Practice, practice and then practice your answering a series of tough interview questions. With today's technology, it's no excuse not to be able to tape you answers and your overall interview presentation. How you sit, how often you smile, how you listen, your appearance, the tone of your voice, your interest in the job and possible bad habits will all be revealed in the mock interview.

If you have gap in the required skills or qualifications develop an answer that will bridge the gap. You either have another matching skill, you are learning the skill, or a combination of the two.

Have others critique your performance. Keep doing the mock interviews until you're satisfied with your performance.

4. The interviewer is looking for someone who is confident of their abilities. How you answer the questions is important. Can you tell a compelling story of a relevant accomplishment? Does the story sparkle, can the interviewer feel your confidence of a job well done and obstacles you overcame?

If so, you just gained more points by your intensity and your quiet confidence of your abilities.

5. You are on the interviewer's turf and many times the interview is scheduled for a set period of time. So in answering open-ended questions you could go on for ten minutes or longer. This could be the kiss of death in an interview.

In answering an open-ended question like, "tell me about the biggest problem you had to overcome," a good strategy is to respond that you'll give them a short answer and if they want to go into greater depth you'll be happy to provide them with the longer version.

How to Answer Interview Questions - Keys for Success

If you've landed the interview that you've been hoping for, then you've already cleared the first hurdle towards employment. But while your resume has brought you this far, you're going to need to rely on your communication skills and knowledge to have a great interview.

The days leading up to your interview can be stressful as you try to plan out just what to say when you sit down with the interviewer. But if you understand the basics of how to answer interview questions as well as the best responses for some of the most common ones, you really have nothing to worry about.

Here are three quick tips to help you create that strong impression during your interview.

Tip #1 - The first thing to keep in mind when trying to understand how to answer interview questions is simply to be confident. If you stammer, mumble, don't make eye contact, and otherwise project a lack of confidence then it really doesn't matter how you answer any question - you've already defeated yourself. Be sure that you don't chew over each question for several minutes, either. Companies are looking for quick thinkers who possess the skills needed to solve problems at the drop of a hat. Answer quickly and confidently, and you'll be sure to make a great impression.

Tip #2 - Another thing to keep in mind when planning out how to answer interview questions is that your experience must come into play. Don't hesitate to cite examples from previous jobs or from your education background that apply to the question being asked.

Tip #3 - Finally, never badmouth a previous employer, even if you're asked to describe the worst boss you've ever had. It's almost a trick question and is best answered with a simple explanation along the lines of "None of my bosses have been terrible, but I've learned more from some than I have from others." Nobody wants to hire someone who spends five minutes complaining about a boss they've had in the past.

There are countless questions that you may be asked in an interview, so many that it's really impossible to guess which ones you'll be faced with. Instead, you should realize that the key to how to answer interview questions lies more in your attitude than in your answers.

Confidence, creativity, and a positive attitude are more often than not exactly what employers are on the lookout for and as long as you can answer your interview questions with these factors in mind you should have nothing to worry about in the least.

Top 10 Interview Questions

If you are looking to appear for an interview, then given below are top 10 interview questions that can help you prepare for the interview. Suitable answers are also given below:

1. Tell me something about yourself?

So as you answer this question, talk about what you've done to prepare yourself to be the very best candidate for the position. Use suitable examples to tell them about yourself.

2. Why should we hire you?

Just point out how your assets meet what the organization requires. Never compare yourself with other candidates. Comparisons can certainly work against you.

3. What is your greatest strength?

A number of answers are good, just try and stay positive and as cool as possible. A few good examples: your problem solving skills, leadership skills or positive attitude.

4. What do you really look for in a job?

I simply look for an opportunity to use my skills, to perform well and be recognized.

5. How long would you stay with us?

I would love to work with you as long as we both feel that I am contributing, achieving and growing enough.

6. What do you know about our company?

Do enough research before going for the Interview! Spend some time reading or researching for the company. Tell them about the current status of the company.

7. What is your greatest weakness?

You should always select a weakness that you have been actively working to overcome. Always talk about a true weakness and also tell them how you are trying to overcome it.

8. What qualities you feel an effective manager should have?

You can say leadership and vision are the two main qualities that a manager must possess. You can give suitable examples.

9. What is more important to you money or work?

Money is always important, but work is more important. You cannot give a better answer than this one.

10. Tell me about your ability to work under pressure?

You may say that you thrive under different types of pressures. Also give suitable examples.

Top Strategy For Technical Interview Questions

Technical interview questions are bound to come up when your job involves some technical content and because that includes so many different subjects, what we can only do here is show you HOW to deal with technical interview questions.

If you really know your subject from practical experience, then in any particular area, you should also be able to say what could go wrong. Other interview candidates who don't have your experience or if they had only done a course on the subject, wouldn't be able to answer any questions on what might go wrong. If they had only been slightly exposed to the technical subject then their replies to such technical interview questions would probably be very limited.

But if you had genuine and extensive experience of a technical area, then you could probably give a lengthy answer about the possible problems and their solutions.

From an interviewer's point of view, someone who knows what can go wrong demonstrates knowledge more effectively than giving someone a technical test. Knowing what can go wrong and the ways of avoiding it is the way to produce a successful outcome to any technical task.

So if your interviewer does not ask technical interview questions like that, you should aim to turn the interview round so that you are able to bring out your knowledge of the particular technical area or skill that they need to know about.

Before you go to the interview, think about all the things that may go wrong in this area or when applying this particular skill. Also think about how you have solved these problems to make them right.

So, when you go to the interview, be determined to get this across; that you know what the issues are and how you can solve them. Don't just passively sit there and answer the questions they ask. It should be quite straightforward to bring up the topic of the problems that occur and the solutions you have come up with.

If it doesn't come out readily during the interview, when they ask if you have any questions you should immediately ask them about the main problems that they have had at their site, and then discuss how they are solving them. You can then go on to talk about similar problems that you have had and what you have done to correct them. If they haven't come across some of these issues yet, they might be very keen to have you on board for when they do.

But even if they have come across the problems, by bringing them up you will show your understanding of the subject and that you are able to sort out problems that can occur.

If you are an interview candidate, make sure that you have prepared a list of technical interview questions about what can go wrong and prepare some statements about how you would put it right; go to the interview determined that you are going to make this point.

6 Steps to Success in Competency Based Interviews

Competency based interviews are intended to get the best from you, the candidate, whilst also fulfilling the needs of the organization to get the very best person for the job. There are some easy steps to make the most of yourself and have a much better chance of success.

1. Prepare well, but keep it sensible As long as you know the job you are going for, ask for details of what you will be measured against. Ask for a set of competencies. Ask for a job description. This sets you up to succeed, not just because you are better informed, but also because you have asked - which will impress the decision-makers, before you even get there!

2. Get Creative Here is the time to use your own experiences to create 'stories' which you can use in the actual interview. These 'stories' are real scenarios that you have been a part of, which over a period of days and weeks beforehand, you write up. Maybe you will have 20+ initial ideas.

3. Leverage! Take the very best scenarios and write them out, bullet points first. Then flesh them out, whilst referring carefully to the competencies you've been given. It is amazing how you can 'tune-in' your scenario to include many, if not all of the competencies. And if you can't fit them all in, there will be a use for them - later!

4. Practice By reading through your scenarios (and by now you should not have more than six or seven) you will familiarize yourself with the contents, so well, that they will become second nature - even in the scary experience of an interview.

5. In the Interview There are some tactics in here too!

• Using your scenarios make just three key points about what you've been asked. Make them relevant and the right 'weight'. Not too long or too short.

• After that, leave space for them to ask more - that's what they are listening for.

• Say 'I' a lot - they want to know what your personal involvement and experience was, not 'the team' or 'they'.

• Have fun - whilst not contrived, smile and make some simple jokes, if you feel comfortable with that - they want to employ happy as well as capable people.

• Can't answer? That's fine. Make sure that you reflect on your shortcomings by saying things like, 'It's one of the first things I want to develop in my next job - if you did your stuff on your scenarios and your competencies well enough, you will have covered 90% of the bases well and you'll be forgiven for not being 'perfect'. If you are really stumped - say so!

• Ask questions - relevant, about their culture, focus on developing you, opportunities - the positive 'peopley' things (remember it's your chance to see if you want to work with them!).

• Also ask about current issues they may be facing - you did do your homework on them, didn't you?

6. Strong Ending! Keep the whole thing light, even as you leave at the end. Have a conversation in general terms - about anything! Do make sure that you ask them some things that are about them -

Remember that competencies are there to help you and they provide a guide-map for your competency based interview success!