When you become one of the small pool of top applicants who
are asked to interview for a position, you know you’re doing something right.
Your cover letter and resume have effectively conveyed you as a prized employee
and a skilled professional. Now it’s time to show them that you are in
fact as good as you sound on paper. Every interview is different—mostly because
every interviewer has a different idea of the types of questions they’ll ask
you. Some may focus on your past work experience without getting into personal
details, and others may rely on personal questions to help them figure out if
you’re a good fit for the company. You need to be ready for any type of question
that comes your way. This chapter reviews basic etiquette and helps you begin to
develop your interview persona. You can use the language in this section during
interviews or even apply it to your resume.
Use the advice that follows to prepare and practice—and
ultimately get the job!
Preparing to Answer Questions
You will be asked a variety of questions on a job interview.
These questions will pertain to your skills and abilities, accomplishments,
education, and work history. You will also be asked questions about your
strengths and weaknesses, your interests and hobbies, and your likes and
dislikes, all of which will allow the employer to learn about your personal
traits or characteristics.
Be Specific
On a job interview, you will be asked questions about your
skills, for example. Of course, you know what skills you have, but can you
discuss how you acquired them? What if you’re asked about your accomplishments?
You’ve no doubt accomplished a lot at work, but can you recall specifics? You
need anecdotes that clearly back up your claims, so it is imperative that you
prepare in advance and have some good examples of your strengths ready when the
subject comes up.
