MONDAY MISSION
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The first in a four part series on interviewing
First the bad news: There is no guarantee that your
(hopefully) future employer is a good interviewer. The good news: He or she may still be a good
employer.
Sometimes employers plan to ask strange interview
questions to get a feel for how you will solve problems and/or how poised you can be under pressure. In
this situation what you answer may not matter as much as how you think it
through or communicate.
Other employers, like Apple, have a list of strange
interview questions they ask job candidates to assess specific attributes. Interviewers
may be looking for your product or
company knowledge, creativity level, or reasoning ability. ( http://www.glassdoor.com/blog/top-25-oddball-interview-questions-2011/)
Of course, there are plenty of just plain bad job
interviewers. The interviewer may lack training or finesse, or just think they
are being sneaky, smart or
straightforward. The questions may
even be illegal (this may only matter if you aren’t offered a job because
of your answer and you sue them for it). http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/careers/resources/interviewillegal.htm#more
Idle chit-chat with a stranger in the elevator or
waiting room could be pre-interview evaluation. Small talk with the interviewer
on the way into the meeting room (or when leaving) could also provide fodder
for evaluation.
Remember your interview starts the minute you step onto
the employer’s property. The bottom line is that you want the job; so plan to
put your best foot forward. Practice answering as many interview questions at
you can. If possible, enlist the help of someone else to ask you the questions.
http://www.gowrikumar.com/interview/index.html
DON’T BE TAKEN BY SURPRISE IN AN
INTERVIEW
Preparing for an
interview is a major key to success. Practice answering standard interview
questions. You always want to research
the company you are interviewing with as thoroughly as possible. Likewise you
should go out of your way to stay current
with your industry’s latest news and information. Also, keep sharp with brain teasers, riddles, and the like. http://www.forbes.com/sites/work-in-progress/2012/05/15/10-brainteasers-to-test-your-mental-sharpness/
If you have issues or obstacles that may negatively
impact your assessment during an interview then prepare your answers to tough
questions in advance and practice,
practice, practice. If you need to buy some time while developing an answer,
you can always say, “Hmmmm, I can honestly say I have never been asked that in
an interview.” If you have developed a rapport or can pull it off successfully,
ask, “Do you mind if I ask the reason for the question?”
Some of the strangest interview questions I have come
across and suggested answers and approaches to each are sorted into three broad
categories: Pretty is as pretty does (or says); Irrelevant, Irreverent, orIllegal; and Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire.
Other articles that may be of interest:
Aug 07, 2012
Job Search for the Rest of Us!: I have a panel interview - what should I expect?: Panel interviews tend to be more formal than other types of interviews and can be especially nerve racking if you allow it to! Panel interv...Panel ...
Feb 09, 2012
Here are some great career related posts I shared over the past week. You can find similar posts on my Google profile page: https://plus.... Who will pluck the chickens? By Mary Sherwood Sevinsky Like many folks, I listen to ...
Aug 01, 2012
It is imperative that you practice interviewing if you want to get the job! Start with writing down answers to common interview questions. Focus on presenting yourself and your desire for the job in the best possible light. Temper ...
Jun 19, 2012
Laziness – many small employers still use outdated forms and ask outmoded questions because they keep copying their old standby applications and interview questions. Often an interviewer might have been verbally told to ...
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