interview questions

[Boomer]

1) Ability to communicate

- Can the person take thoughts and form cohesive verbal instruction?
- Can the person professionally communicate in writing?
- Do they understand the people they are speaking too and use proper levels of formality and professionalism?

2) Emotionally stable

- Why did they leave their last job? Was it someone else’s fault?
- When they talk about their family and relationships is it mostly negative or positive?
- How are they handling themselves in the interview?

3) Techniques on handling stress

- How are they in the interview?

- When they describe a stressful situation and how they managed it, is the level of stress they are communicating on par with the stress of the job they are applying for?

4) Relational Abilities

- Self, Social or Task centered … all can be good or bad dependant on the job

5) Long term goals

- Reason for wanting this job .. will be indicative of their level of motivation to perform.

Originally Posted by Boomer

1) Ability to communicate

- Can the person take thoughts and form cohesive verbal instruction?
- Can the person professionally communicate in writing?
- Do they understand the people they are speaking too and use proper levels of formality and professionalism?

2) Emotionally stable

- Why did they leave their last job? Was it someone else’s fault?
- When they talk about their family and relationships is it mostly negative or positive?
- How are they handling themselves in the interview?

3) Techniques on handling stress

- How are they in the interview?

- When they describe a stressful situation and how they managed it, is the level of stress they are communicating on par with the stress of the job they are applying for?

4) Relational Abilities

- Self, Social or Task centered … all can be good or bad dependant on the job

5) Long term goals

- Reason for wanting this job .. will be indicative of their level of motivation to perform.

Alright Mr. a million people report to me and I hold the fate of the free world in my hands.

[rockdawg21]

Alright, looks like you're not getting any help from these jokesters so here you go Amy!

Always start with "Tell me about yourself." Check their posture, speed of words, eye contact, etc. You're a woman, you're a natural at reading body language and how to interpret it as to who they really are. If they didn't prepare to answer this question first, they haven't done their homework on how to properly interview. Interpret this as a lack of interest in finding a career. If they didn't put forth the effort to give an A+ interview, they will not put forth the effort to give an A+ job performance.

Some others and why:

• You want to be sure they have long-term goals - "Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? 10 years from now? etc."
• You want to be sure they have researched your company; this shows true interest in a career rather than someone who is only seeking a job. Plus, you want to know how your company could benefit them, the best interviewers will be prepared to answer that if they've truly done their homework - "What do you know about our company? Why do you think we would be a good fit for you?"
• You want to know if they value themselves, and to what degree (lack of confidence, just right, overconfidence, arrogance, etc.) - "Why should we hire you for this position?"
• Do they think they're perfect, or are they mature enough to openly share their downfalls? - "What would you say are your weaknesses?" or "What would you say is your greatest weakness?" - If they say "chocolate" or "overeating", they failed
• This is an easy one. Read them for true confidence versus arrogance - "What would you say are your strengths?"
• You want to know if they're a team player - "Do you prefer to work in a group or alone? Why?"
• You want to know why they're leaving their previous job, this could be many reasons, so interpret it from their answers - What did you like and dislike about your previous job? Why did you leave?" (sometimes the last question is already answered from the first question)

I'm going to be interviewing in the next few months...how's about somebody gives me good ANSWERS to those questions!

(Just kidding...I've never interviewed for a job I wasn't eventually offered...)

[rockdawg21]

Originally Posted by Primadawn

I'm going to be interviewing in the next few months...how's about somebody gives me good ANSWERS to those questions!

(Just kidding...I've never interviewed for a job I wasn't eventually offered...)

So Amy, is that confidence or arrogance?

Originally Posted by rockdawg21

So Amy, is that confidence or arrogance?

Realism baby!

[TexasRN]

Great answers from Boomer and Rockdawg. Thanks guys. Really. The rest of ya'll yahoos just made me laugh. I did go around my office asking people the bathtub question. One girl even said 'teacup'...for real.

The first time I did interviews I tended to just have a friendly type conversation and that didn't work out so well. Now I am being groomed for management and there is a position soon that I'll be doing interviews for and I want to truly get a good handle on the people I'll be choosing from. I don't want to be a hard-a$$ but I can't have an idiot working for me.

And Mike, why is a tennis ball fuzzy? I'm bamboozled.


~Amy

[rockdawg21]

If it helps, just close your eyes and try to remember any questions you've had during interviews. You might be able to dig up a few more that way.

[Bonnie]

Originally Posted by rockdawg21

Alright, looks like you're not getting any help from these jokesters so here you go Amy!

Always start with "Tell me about yourself." Check their posture, speed of words, eye contact, etc. You're a woman, you're a natural at reading body language and how to interpret it as to who they really are. If they didn't prepare to answer this question first, they haven't done their homework on how to properly interview. Interpret this as a lack of interest in finding a career. If they didn't put forth the effort to give an A+ interview, they will not put forth the effort to give an A+ job performance.

Some others and why:

• You want to be sure they have long-term goals - "Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? 10 years from now? etc."
• You want to be sure they have researched your company; this shows true interest in a career rather than someone who is only seeking a job. Plus, you want to know how your company could benefit them, the best interviewers will be prepared to answer that if they've truly done their homework - "What do you know about our company? Why do you think we would be a good fit for you?"
• You want to know if they value themselves, and to what degree (lack of confidence, just right, overconfidence, arrogance, etc.) - "Why should we hire you for this position?"
• Do they think they're perfect, or are they mature enough to openly share their downfalls? - "What would you say are your weaknesses?" or "What would you say is your greatest weakness?" - If they say "chocolate" or "overeating", they failed
• This is an easy one. Read them for true confidence versus arrogance - "What would you say are your strengths?"
• You want to know if they're a team player - "Do you prefer to work in a group or alone? Why?"
• You want to know why they're leaving their previous job, this could be many reasons, so interpret it from their answers - What did you like and dislike about your previous job? Why did you leave?" (sometimes the last question is already answered from the first question)

Arrrrgggghhhhh! Those were always the two questions I hated the most.

When you ask, "Tell me about yourself?", are you asking for personal, professional, both? How much should you tell about yourself?

And then, "Where do you see yourself in five years?" Quite frankly I think the way the world is now, that one should definitely be "X'd".

Not being good at being interviewed doesn't necessarily mean a person wouldn't be good in the actual job.

[Bonnie]

Originally Posted by rockdawg21

So Amy, is that confidence or arrogance?

Sounds like it's a "fact". So in that case, she could definitely be confident in herself without being arrogant....unless she has a narcissistic personality.