Scenarios to Expect in the Interview Process

The Day Before

The day before an important interview is the day to prepare. You have a choice. You can let the jitters send you into a tailspin, or you can take steps to turn your nervousness into excitement and energy.

Here are some steps to follow to prepare the day before:

• Get everything ready the day before
• Become familiar in advance with the route you will travel to the interview
• As you travel to the interview, visualize yourself as someone about to be hired. As though you were starring in a movie, run interviewing images through your mind. Imagine the stories you’ll tell and the impressed look on your interviewer’s face as you ask your own questions and present your own commercial of qualifications- skills and accomplishments.
• Imagine yourself being at ease, radiating sincerity, credibility, energy, enthusiasm, and competence. We ask the way we think.

When making an entrance into the interview, keep these tips in mind:

• Dress as though you belong where you’re interviewing
• Be friendly to all office staffers – they’ll discuss you opening once you leave
• Wait for the interviewer to initiate a handshake and then make your handshake a firm one.
• Make several copies of your resume in case you’re asked for a copy. More likely, you’ll be introduced to others who have a say in the hiring decision – leave one with each important person you meet.
• Stand until invited to sit.
• When you feel a sudden case of nerves, learn from the dramatic arts. Think of yourself as a favorite media personality who is cool, calm, collected, and confident.

During the interview.

Use these tips to give an ‘award-winning’ performance and keep the interviewer’s attention during the interview:

• Ask the question that reveals the key to the entire interview – ‘What is the scope of the position and what are the qualifications of the ideal person for it?’
• Recognize that an interviewer’s silence can move you to speak before you think. When things become too tense, ask a job-related question to parade your skills.
• Pay close attention to your audience. Observe body language. Note subject matter and how comments are phrased.
• When you think the decision on you is thumbs down, try a last-chance statement – ‘Because I’m very interested in this job, I want to be sure that you have all the information you need to make a positive decision on my candidacy. Would you be interested in hearing more about my-?”
• Avoid money talk until a job is offered.

Here are 10 samples of work-related questions for an interview:

• What would my key responsibilities be?
• How many and who would I supervise/ to whom would I report?
• Does the staff maintain a team spirit?
• Will on-job training be required for a new product?
• Can you describe a typical day?
• How would you describe the atmosphere here?
• Where is the company headed? Merger? Growth?
• What would my first project be?
• What type of training would I receive?
• How much travel, if any, is required?

The Questions.

Here are some samples of questions in which an employer/ interviewer might ask about you:

• What is your most memorable accomplishment
• Where do you see yourself five years from now?
• How does this position fit with your long term career objectives?
• What is your greatest strength? Greatest weakness?
• What key assets can you offer in this job?
• What are three things I should know about you?
• What are your outside interests/ hobbies?
• Would you rather work with others or alone?
• Are you a leader or a follower?
• What is your experience working with teams?
• Describe your ideal job?
• What is your definition of success? Of failure?
• Why have you been successful?
• How do you handle stressful situations?
• How do you work under pressure?
• Why should I hire you over the other candidates?
• What can you tell me about yourself that will make me remember you?
• Tell me how you deal with unexpected problems?
• How do you set goals?
• How do you go about achieving your goals?
• Is there anything else I should know about you?

Below is a list of sample question in which an employer/ interviewer might ask pertaining to the job/position or company:

• Who do you know about this position?
• What do you know about our competition?
• Why did you apply for this company?
• How will you help our company?
• How do you organize your time?
• Who do you delegate responsibility?
• What kind of experience do you have for this job?
• What are your qualifications?