Handling Job Interview Questions

The job interview questions you get asked are generally predictable and fall into a number of known categories.

If you are aware of this, you can prepare your answers in
advance and give yourself a competitive advantage.

You need to plan for each of these 4 interview steps:

• Pre-interview planning and research
• Handlig tough questions during the interview
• Closing the interview positively
• Post-interview follow up and thank you letters

Teaching Job Interview Techniques

It is essential to have a strategy for handling interviews successfully. This needs to include all of the following elements that make up a interview and need to be mastered ...

• Interview Types
• Interview Preparation
• Starting the Interview
• Answers to Typical Questions
• Answers to Tough Questions
• Interview Tips
• Interview Questions to Ask
• Salary Negotiations
• Closing the Interview
• After the Interview

Further details on the content of each of the above interview strategy elements follow ...

Interview Types

It's essential to know the different types of interviews you may experience to enable advance preparation for your job interview questions.

This topic provides details on the following types of job interviews:

• Screening Interviews
• Telephone Interviews
• Informational Interviews
• Directive Interviews
• Meandering Interviews
• Stress Interviews
• Behavioral Interviews
• Audition Interviews
• Group Interviews
• Panel Interviews
• Tag-team Interviews
• Meal-time Interviews
• Follow-up Interviews

Interview Preparation

It is very important to prepare thoroughly for your job interview questions, so you can be confident of giving your best performance on the big day.

This section discusses the foolowing aspects of interview preparation:

• Set up an interview wardrobe
• Learn the responses to basic job interview questions
• Practice your interview presentation
• Compile list of strenghts & weaknesses

Starting the Interview

First impressions always count and a good start to your interview will settle your nerves and give your confidence a boost.

Some of the techniques used to ensure a good start to your interview are :

• Punctuality
• Appearnace
• Review your notes on job interview questions
• Greeting
• Be Professional
• Social Etiquette

Answers to Typical Questions

Job interview questions fall into four basic categories:

• Open Interview Questions
• Closed Interview Questions
• Behavioral Interview Questions
• Hypothetical Interview Questions

Answers to Tough Questions

You can always expect to get some really tough job interview questions and perhaps even a few dubious ones as well:

• Why did you leave
• Explain gaps in employment
• Describe your weaknesses
• Why are you interested
• Why should we hire you

Interview Tips

Some really useful interview do's and don'ts:

• Dress appropriately
• Go alone
• Pace your conversation
• Be polite to everyone
• Arrive early
• Be prepared
• Be honest
• Don't smoke
• Turn off your cell phone
• Be enthusiastic

Interview Questions to Ask

It's always good practice for you to ask questions at your job interview ... it shows the interviewer you are interested in the position and gives you a another chance to impress.

Consider asking some of these questions:

• Has this position been rewcently created
• How did this position come about
• What type of trainining can I expect
• What is the length of tenure for your average employee
• What qualities and skills are you looking for
• What growth opportunities are there
• How soon do you anticipate making a hiring decision

Salary Negotiations

Although most people find salary negotiations difficult, it is an opportunity to secure the best package possible. Use these tips to help you in your salary negotiations:

• Employers generally expect candidates to negotiate salaries
• Reseasrch job pay statistics to determine your market worth
• Rehearse your negotiations with friends
• Sample negotiation responses
• Trade one benefit for aonther that you value more

Closing the Interview

Make a lasting impression by closing on a positive note. If you have answered all the job interview questions successfully, the last thing you want is to spoilt it by a poor close. Try using some of these closing tactics:

• Ask some prepared questions
• Enquire about the timing of the hiring decision
• Request feedback on your interview performance
• Confirm you interest in the position
• Express your confidence in been able to do the job well

After the Interview

If you know in advance what to do after the interview, you can start planning while you are still "working" the interview.

Some essential actions include:

• Find out when the hiring decision is to be made
• Note the names and contact details of key decision makers
• Be sure to send a thank you letter or note
• Follow up at appropriate intervals

Make best use of all these strategies to answer your job
interview questions successfully - good luck!