Tips for Successful Interviewing - Practice Anwering Questions

By Sandy Prock M.Ed., JCTC, Co-Owner of www.ExpertResume.com

Are you ready for your interview? One way to build your confidence is to think through the possible questions an interviewer may ask you and think about how you might answer those questions.

Below is a jump-start including some possible questions an interviewer may ask you. Continue with this and brainstorm what you think they may ask. Put yourself in their position and think about what you would want to know. Interviewers are looking for a good match with their company and their position. The interviewer is searching for clues to how your personality, your education and your work performance will mesh with their company culture and meet their job requirements and needs.

Don’t forget that you are looking for a good match! You are also interviewing to see if the company and the position is a good match for you too.

Here are some ideas to get you started in preparing for interview questions:

• Rehearse possible questions.
• About your education possible questions:
  • What were your favorite and least favorite classes and why?
  • What was your grade point?
  • What leadership positions did you hold?
  • What was your greatest lesson that you learned in school?
• About your work experience:
  • What parts of your job did you enjoy most?
  • Why did you leave your last position?
  • What was your greatest lesson you learned in your last position or in any of your past jobs?
  • What was your typical day like?
  • What did you least like about your last job or your last positions?
  • What part of teamwork do you most enjoy or least enjoy?
• About your personality
  • What are your top five strengths?
  • What are your weaknesses? What do you least enjoy doing and how do you manage if you are asked to do a task that involves your weak areas?
  • What books do you read?
  • What are your top values?
  • What kind of personalities do you work best with?
  • What situations or kinds of people stir up anger for you and how do you handle those sensitive situations?
  • What do you do in your spare time? Do you have any hobbies? 

These are a few questions to help you begin to prepare for your interview. Interviewers vary the type of questions they may ask. It is impossible to prepare for every question, however, brainstorm as many possible questions as you can and reflect how you might answer. It helps to write out or practice with a trusted friend or spouse. Preparation is the key to building your confidence.

Make sure you take extra copies of your resume with you. Give each person you interview a copy of your resume.

Have a pad and pen in case you need to take notes. Ask for business cards from people you talk with for later reference and correct spelling of names. When you finish the interview, in your car, or at home, write notes about your conversation in the interview. Keep track of the date of the interview and conversation. You may need this information for follow up letters or interviews. Don't count on just your memory.

Make sure your resume, cover letter and other job search documents are polished and well written. It has never been more important to have a "Great Resume" than this job market.

Bob and I wish you the best in your job search process and go for the gold in your interview!

Sandy Prock, Co-Owner of www.ExpertResume.com, M.Ed., JCTC