55 most frequently asked interview questions

Dan Johnston from PPR Career shared the following list of frequently asked questions on a job interview, as well as advice on what to be prepared for ! Tell me about "nswer in about two minutes "void details, don#t yourself. Use Picture ramble $ouch on these four areas% Frame Approach &ow many years, doing what function 'ducation ( credentials )ajor responsibility and accomplishments Personal summary of work style *plus career goals if applicable+ Prepare in advance using this formula% ! / 4 5 7 ,)y name is-. ,0#ve worked for 1 years as a 2title3, ,Currently, 0#m a 2title3 at 2company3, ,6efore that, 0 was a 2title3 at 2company3, ,0 love the challenge of my work, especially the major strengths it allows me to offer, including 2", 6, and C3, 9econd, help the interviewer by focusing the question with a question of your own% ,:hat about me would be most relevant to you and what this company needs;.

/ 4

!id you brin" your resume# $hat do you know about our or"ani%ation#

<es 6e prepared with two or three e=tra copies Do not offer them unless you#re asked for one Research the target company before the interview 6asic research is the only way to prepare for this question Do your homework, and you#ll score big on this question $alk about products, services, history and people, especially any friends that work there ,6ut 0 would love to know more, particularly from your point of view Do we have time to cover that now; Pre>interview research and PP' (areer will help you here $ry to cite e=perience relevant to the company#s concerns "lso, try answering this questions with a

$hat e&perience do you have#

question% ,"re you looking for overall e=perience or e=perience in some specific area of special interest to you;. ?et the interviewer#s response guide your answer 5. Accordin" to your definition of success) how successful have you been so far# *0s this person mature and self aware;+ 8 *n your current or last position) what were your most si"nificant accomplishments# *n your career so far# @ive one or two accomplishment statements 6e prepared to define success, and then respond *consistent record of responsibility+

+ad you thou"ht of Refer to positive aspects of the job, advancement leavin" your present opportunities, and what you learned position before# *f yes) what do you think held you there# $ould you describe a @ive only one, and tell how you have corrected or plan few situations in to correct your work which your work was critici%ed# *f * spoke with your previous boss) what would he or she say are your "reatest stren"ths and weaknesses# 6e consistent with what you think the boss would say Position the weakness in a positive way *refer to D!/+

!E +ow would you describe your personality#

Feep your answer short and relevant to the job and the organiGation#s culture

!! $hat are your stron" Present three Relate them to that particular company and points# job opening !/ $hat are your weak points# Don#t say you have one, but give one that is really a ,positive in disguise . 0 am sometimes impatient and do to much work myself when we are working against tight deadlines . Hr ,0 compliment and praise my staff, but

feel 0 can improve . 'mphasiGe your best and favorite subjects 0f grades were average, talk about leadership or jobs you took to finance your education $alk about e=tra>curricular *0s the person motivated; :hat activities *clubs, sports, volunteer work+ are hisIher values, attitudes; 0s there a fit;+ !5 *n your current or last position) what features did you like most# ,east# Refer to your satisfiers for likes 6e careful with dislikes, give only one *if any+ and make it brief Refuse to answer negatively Respond that you ,like everything about my current position and have acquired and developed a great many skills, but 0#m now ready for a new set of challenges and greater responsibilities . !4 +ow did you do in school#

!7 $hat do you look for Jlip this one over Despite the question, the employer in a -ob# isn#t really interested in what you are looking for &e#s interested in what he is looking for "ddress his interests, rather than yours Kse words like ,contribute,. ,enhance,. ,improve,. and ,team environment . Jit your answer to their needs Relate your preferences and satisfiersIdissatisfiers to the job opening !8 +ow lon" would it take you to make a meanin"ful contribution to our firm# !A +ow lon" would you stay with us# !B *f you have never supervised) how do you feel about assumin" those responsibilities# ,Lot long, because of my e=perience, transferable skills and ability to learn .

,"s long as 0 feel that 0#m contributing, and that my contribution is recogniGed 0#m looking to make a long term commitment . 0f you want to supervise, say so, and be enthusiastic

!C $hy do you want to ,$o grow and develop professionally, to help others become a supervisor# develop, to build a team and to share what 0 have learned . /E $hat do you see as ,@etting things planned and done through others and the most difficult task dealing with different personalities . 9how how you in bein" a supervisor# have done this in the past /! .ou/ve been with ?et#s assume the interviewer has a point here $hat

your current employer quite a while. $hy haven/t you advanced with him#

doesn#t mean you have to agree with the negative terms of the question "nswer% ,:hat 0 like about my present position is that it#s both stable and challenging 6ut it#s true that 0#ve grown about as much as 0 can in my current position *$his response also turns the issue of salary on its head, transforming it from What more can I get; to What more can I offer;+ Lever answer with negative reasons, even if they are true &owever, some companies have financial problems which may preclude you from staying with them Jrame your answer positively by answering why you want to move to the target company instead of why you left or want to leave your most recent job Jor e=ample, instead of answering, ,0 don#t get enough challenges at 2company3,. respond, ,0 am eager to take on more challenges, and 0 believe 0 will find them at 2hiring company3 .0#m not unhappy *at my present employer+ &owever, this opportunity seems to be particularly interesting and 0 am interested in pursuing it further Lever personaliGe or be negative Feep it short, give a ,group. answer *e g our office is closing, the whole organiGation is being reduced in siGe+ 9tick to one responseM don#t change answers during the interview :hen applicableM best response is% 0 was not on the market when PP' (areer contacted me and e=plained what you are doing, it peaked my interest $eam work is the key

// $hy are you leavin" your present position#

/4 !escribe what would be an ideal workin" environment#

/5 +ow would you 6e positive Refer to the valuable e=perience you have evaluate your present gained Don#t mention negatives firm# /7 !o you prefer 6e aware of what the job requires and position your workin" with fi"ures) answer in that context. In many cases it would be both. or with words# /8 $hat kinds of people Kse this question as a chance to show that you are a team do you find difficult player% ,$he only people 0 have trouble with are those to work with# who aren#t team players, who just don#t perform, who complain constantly, and who fail to respond to any efforts to motivate them . $he interviewer is e=pecting a response focused on personality and personal dislikes 9urprise her by delivering an answer that reflects

company values /A +ow would your co0 workers describe you# Refer to your strengths and skills

/B $hat do you think of 0f you like him or her, say so and tell why 0f you don#t your boss# like him or her, find something positive to say /C $hy do you want to '=plain how this siGe or type of company works well for work in a company of you, using e=amples from the past if possible this si%e. 1r this type# 4E *f you had your choice of -obs and companies) where would you "o# 4! $hy do you want to work for us# Refer to job preferences 9ay that this job and this company are very close to what best suits you

<ou feel you can help achieve the companies objectives, especially in the short run <ou like what you#ve learned about the company, its policies, goals and management% ,0#ve researched the company and people tell me it#s a good place to work .

4/ $hat was the last $hink this through <our answer should be compatible book you read# 2ovie with accepted norms you saw# 3portin" event you attended# 44 $hat are you doin") or what have you done to reach your career ob-ectives# $alk about formal courses and training programs

45 $hat was wron" with "gain, choose your words carefully Don#t be negative your last company# 9ay that no company is perfect, it had both strengths and weaknesses 47 $hat kind of hours are you used to workin"# *Does the person match job and criteria;+ ,"s many hours as it takes to get the job done .

48 $hat would you do for us#

Relate past success in accomplishing the objectives which are similar to those of the prospective employer

4A $hat has your e&perience been in supervisin" people# 4B Are you a "ood supervisor#

@ive e=amples from accomplishments

Draw from your successes <es, my people like and respect me personally and professionally $hey often comment on how much they learn and develop under my supervision 0f you haven#t, say so, but add that you could do it, if necessary

4C !id you ever fire anyone# *f so) what were the reasons and how did you handle it#

5E +ow have you helped Refer to accomplishments your company# 5! $hat is the most money you ever accounted for# ,ar"est bud"et responsibility# Refer to accomplishments 0f you haven#t had budget responsibility, say so, but refer to an accomplishment that demonstrates the same skill

45. $hat/s the most Remember, you#re talking to a prospective employer, not difficult situation you your best friend Don#t dredge up a catastrophe that ever faced on the -ob# resulted in a personal or corporate failure 6e ready for this question by thinking of a story that has a happy ending ( happy for you and your company Lever digress into personal or family difficulties, and don#t talk about problems you#ve had with supervisors or peers <ou might discuss a difficult situation with a subordinate, provided that the issues were resolved inventively and to everyone#s satisfaction 54 !escribe some situations in which you have worked under pressure or met deadlines# Refer to accomplishments 'veryone has had a few of these pressure situations in a career 6ehavior>related questions aim at assessing a candidate#s character, attitude, and personality traits by asking for an account of how the candidate handled certain challenging situations Plan for such questions by making a list of the desirable traits relevant to the needs of the industry or prospective employer and by preparing some job>related stories about your e=perience that demonstrate a range of those traits and habits of conduct 6efore answering the questions, listen carefully and ask any clarifying questions you think necessary $ell your story and conclude by e=plaining what you intended your story to

illustrate Jinally, ask for feedback% ,Does this tell you what you need to know;. 55 +ow do you handle re-ection# Rejection is part of business People don#t always buy what you sell $he tick here is to separate rejection of your product from rejection of yourself% ,0 see rejection as an opportunity 0 learn from it :hen a customer takes a pass, 0 ask him what we could do to the product, price or service to make it possible for him to say yes Don#t get me wrong% <ou#ve got to makes sales 6ut rejection is valuable, too 0t#s a good teacher . Refer to accomplishments

57 *n your present position) what problems have you identified that had previously been overlooked# 58 6ive an e&ample of your creativity.

Refer to accomplishments

5A 6ive e&amples of your Draw e=amples from accomplishments leadership abilities. 5B $hat are your career $alk first about doing the job for which you are "oals# applying <our career goals should mesh with the hiring company goals 5C $hat position do you Just say you wish to e=ceed objectives so well that you e&pect to have in two will be on a promotable track years# 7E $hat are your ob-ectives# *&ow does the person handle stress; :hat is their confidence level;+ 7! $hy should we hire you# $his may sound suspicious, negative, or just plain harsh "ctually, it#s a call for help $he employer wants you to help himIher hire you Feep your response brief Recap any job requirements the interviewer may have mentioned earlier in the interview, then, point by point, match your skills, abilities and qualifications to those items Relate a past e=perience which represents success in achieving objectives which may be similar to those of Refer back to question D5B on goals

the prospective employer 7/ .ou may be over0 qualified or too e&perienced for the position we have to offer. 74 $hy haven/t you found a new position before now# 75 *f you could start a"ain) what would you do differently# ," strong company needs a strong person . "n employer will get faster return on investment because you have more e=perience than required

,Jinding the right job takes time 0#m not looking for just any job . Lo need to be self>revealing ,&indsight is /EI/EM everyone would make some changes, but 0#ve learned and grown from all my decisions .

77 +ow much do you 6e careful 0f you don#t know the market value, return e&pect if we offer this the question by saying that you would e=pect a fair position to you# salary based on the job responsibilities, your e=perience and skills and the market value of the job '=press your interest in the job because it fits your career goals ( Receptive to a reasonable and competitive offer ( don#t talk N#s 0t#s always best to put off discussing salary and let PP' (areer handle that "L9:'R% 0#m open to a competitive offer 0#d prefer to discuss the opportunity and allow my recruiter to handle any salary questions +ere are the questions. 7. (an you tell us about a challen"in" situation at work you have encountered so far# +ow did you tackle it# &ere the interviewer is looking at a number of factors> your problem solving skills, underlying attitudes, how you put across your ideas and how your previous e=perience may be useful to the present organiGation :hen answering this question, keep the following in mind :hat are the requirements of this organiGation or the job you have applied for; *<ou should have done some research about this before going to the interview+ Low consider a situation, skill or e=perience from your past that would be relevant to the present company $his acts as a proof of your usefulness 0t is a good idea to prepare such a list and have a few small stories ready for the interview $he word Ostory# does not mean that you have to cook up something> find something genuine from your past &aving such stories helps you in several ways> you have something to talk about, and you feel more confident 5. $hat is your way of handlin" conflicts#

:ork related conflicts can be of several sub varieties $his could be conflicts between colleagues, conflicts between senior management and subordinates, conflicts with management rules, systems and procedures, conflicts with clients and customers as well as work versus personal life $he employer obviously e=pects you to look at things from their point of view Lo employer likes an employee for whom they are second priority <ou are valued for your ability to solve problems and not for bringing problems to the workplace $herefore it is important to project a rational and realistic approach <ou can say something like ,0 am aware that conflicts are quite natural things> problems do crop up )y approach would be to look at what is causing the problem $his involves communicating with my team members or the other concerned parties 0 will take in as many views as possible and go with the solution that appears to be the most rational to me. $he interviewer is quite likely to ask you for some such instance from your previous work 0n fact you can offer some such e=ample even if you are not asked, as long as you keep it brief and relevant 0f it illustrates your point, go for it 8. *n what ways do you think you are suited for this -ob# +ow can you contribute to this or"ani%ation# $his again is a question that requires preparation 6efore appearing for the interview, assess your own qualification and skills <ou should also evaluate the needs of the job and the company <ou are qualified for the job to the e=tent that these two match :hat are the most important skills this particular position requires; )ake a list and then prepare a list of instances from your previous work e=perience that match these requirements Jor instance, a customer care e=ecutive needs good interpersonal skills, ability to look at problems rationally, and also the ability to deal with difficult people Hnce you are clear about this, make a list of such instances where your good interpersonal skills and objectivity helped to solve a difficult problem at work $he ne=t step is to analyGe the specific requirements or problems the company is facing at the moment :hich of these can be helped by you; :hat is the value that you bring to the company; Hnce you have prepared specific answers to these questions, you are in a great position to answer this question <ou can now say something like ,0n my view, good interpersonal skills and objective problem analysis are the most important requirements in a customer care e=ecutive 0 can tell you a few instances from my previous e=perience where 0 had demonstrated these skills and solved problems successfully *@ive one or two brief stories here+ 0 also see that you are planning to set up a separate unit to cater to corporate clients :ith my previous e=perience in servicing corporate clients, this is an area 0 could be of specific use to you-. 0ncidentally, this question may be framed in another way ,:hy should we hire you;. 4. * would like to hear about some e&perience from your work life so far.

$his is in fact another version of the previous question, but a more open>ended one $he interviewer wants to leave it up to you what part of your personality and work e=perience you wish to bring forth &owever this is not an invitation to share your adventures and tales of heroism <ou would do well to tell them some story from everyday work life, but one that shows your problem solving skills> things like how you conduct yourself at work and with difficult situations and people &ere you have more possibilities for showing something that you value in yourself> your resourcefulness, your adherence to the rules or your ability to think out of the bo= 6ut do consider the organiGation you are interviewing for> its requirements as well as work culture :hat you say should not give the impression of a misfit 5. 6ive us an instance when you failed in spite of your best efforts# $his is a very common situation for many people, but nevertheless a tricky question <ou are likely to be embarrassed or worried that talking about a previous failure hampers your job prospects $his need not be the case Lo one can be perfect $he employer here is most probably looking at your ability to deal with failure, learn from mistakes and also deal with other people#s mistakes 0f you have such e=periences, be prepared with one )ake sure that it is something that took place sometime back, was not too gigantic or drastic and something that offered you a chance to learn from and apply that learning thereafter $he net result should be to show you in a better light 9. +ow would you evaluate your analytical skills# $his is a fairly easy question if you have done your homework 0t is important to be realistic about what skills you have and how you can substantiate your claims <ou have to be prepared to talk about where or how you learned the skill and how you have applied it &owever your inventory should be in tune with what the current job requires $his way the employer gets to know about the specific skills you can bring to the table <ou can also take into account skills you learned from e=tracurricular activities, as these can also teach you great skills like teamwork :. Tell us about what you consider as your weak area0 thin"s you find difficult to mana"e. $his is a multi>purpose question again $he interviewer wants to see how you react to tricky questions $hey are also assessing your awareness of yourself and how you approach difficult situations and tasks $he trick is again being prepared with a story or two 0t could be about addressing a meeting, voicing your disagreement about an important issue or being put in a situation you had no skills to handle $he story should show something valuable you have learned from the e=perience 0t could also show a difficulty that you are preparing yourself to handle ,0 find that it is difficult for me to make a presentation to my seniors without adequate preparation 0 usually have to prepare all the details and rehearse in advance Jor e=ample, there was this instance with my previous company where the project had to be temporarily discontinued due to some problems with the supplies $he company was very concerned, as this project was

strategically very important to them 0 was asked to brief the top management immediately 0 was handling all the details, so 0 simply put together all the facts and brought them up in the meeting 0t was easier than 0 thought, but whenever possible 0 still would like some time to prepare. ;. Tell us about your "oals0 both short term and lon" term. $his is a very you>specific question 0t all depends on you 0n answering this question, you have to assess where you are at the moment in your career and where you want to go from there )any people switch careers five or si= times and some have two careers going on simultaneously 6e sure to connect your answer to the job you are interviewing for 0t makes sense to steer clear of aims that cannot be achieved with this organiGation Jor e=ample, you may like a stint abroad but the organiGation has no overseas connections 0t is better not to mention this in the interview $his does not mean that you have to come up with things that you have no interest in Research into the organiGation and the possibilities it offers and also consider your wishes $here is a good chance that you come up with something that connects the two <. $here do you see yourself in the ne&t two=five=ten years# $his is another version of the previous question $he interviewer is here assessing how realistic and adept you are in making short term and long term plans $hey also want to see if your aims are in sync with the organiGation#s " sensible way to answer this is to relate it to your progress so far ,0 started working five years back as a customer care e=ecutive while 0 was still pursuing my graduate studies Hnce my graduation was done, 0 went ahead for a part>time )6" )eanwhile 0 was promoted on the job to the level of a team leader in the ne=t company that 0 worked for $his was in recognition of my e=perience and added qualification 0 am a fairly quick learner on the job and 0 have also continued with my learning through training programs and workshops 0 am not really looking at titles, but overall growth in tandem with my learning and contribution to the organiGation $herefore 0 could say that at the end of this period 0 will have learned more and assumed a role of more responsibility where 0 can make more significant contributions to the organiGation . 7>. *s there anythin" that would make us want to hire you) apart from what we have already asked you# $his is your chance for you to present your key selling points Remember that many qualified people would have interviewed for this job :hat makes you stand out; :hat are your strengths that this organiGation may want to hire you; Perhaps you are good at making stories sound interesting; )aybe you genuinely enjoy helping people Hr you have a knack of holding kids# attention to what you are saying $hink of which of these are useful in the job you are applying for "lso be prepared to substantiate your claims " class# overall scores went up at the end of the term you took over as teacher> a difficult child was integrated into the class> or some such evidence 6e sure to plan this out well in

advance <ou can also include this in your thank you letter after the interview $hat would help to sum up your key skills in your request for the job 77. $hat in your view are the key factors in "ood customer service# $o answer this question, you need to step into the customer#s shoes Feep aside the specific situation or problem :hat do you e=pect as a customer; Low you are equipped to answer this question <ou can say something like ,$here are two important elements to customer service> respect and prompt action. <ou might come up with some other variant of this, so choose whatever sounds the most convincing to you 0t would be great if you can cite one or two instances of e=ceptional customer care behavior where you were involved 75. Tell us what you know about this or"ani%ation. $his question is an e=cellent opportunity to show that you have an active interest in the organiGation Jor this you need to do prior research about the company and also relate it to the field of e=pertise you are offering the company Jor instance, if you are applying for a marketing position, ,0 am aware that you are one of the top five J)C@ companies in 0ndia and that you are currently looking to e=pand your market into the )iddle 'ast $his area already has intense competition, however you have certain advantages like-. $his shows several things Jor one, you have already gathered relevant information and you appreciate the company#s position 0t also shows that you are actively using your e=pertise to bring in solutions 78. From your resume) we see that you have been in your current -ob only for si& months. $hy do you want to leave it so soon and -oin us# $his is a tricky question 6e well prepared with a safe answer if you are in this position $he answer has to be closest to the truth while at the same time sounding a safe one <our reasons could be any of these $he actual job was very different from how it was described to me while joining $he company changed its directionI goals )y skills and talents were not being put to good use there $he company management changed and the new management brought in their own staff $he company went in for downsiGing or reorganiGation :hichever answer you might give, be prepared for a few follow up questions $herefore it is important not to make up stories> who knows what kind of une=pected question the interviewer might throw at youP

$he fact is, this is a very common situation )ost interviewers of some e=perience have heard these stories before $hey are not really interested in all your details> what they want to know is how dependable you are "re you a job hopper; $he employer evaluates the circumstances under which you went for this short term job Did you take it up when you already had a job or did you join the job when you were unemployed; 0f you have held on to other jobs for longer and more reasonable durations, it is better to stress on that so that the employer sees this short term job as a one>off incident <ou can even omit it from your resume &owever you may not be able to omit the job from your resume if you are a young person who doesn#t have much e=perience and even a si= or four month stint makes up a good percent of your total work e=perience 74. $hat are you lookin" to "ain from this or"ani%ation# $his is another question where research makes all the difference 0n other words the interviewer is asking what brings you job satisfaction Jind out some important things about the company, like the corporate structure, product base, recent happenings or current plans and the key figures in the management :hich of these appeal the most to you; , 0n the past 0 have had several opportunities to work with some innovative launches 0 understand that you are about to launch an e>learning portal to reach out to more students 0 am very e=cited about this :ith my e=perience in launching student interactive programs, 0 am positive of brining insights and contributions for this project 0 am also very enthusiastic about the team you have already formed for this project 0 feel that 0 have also a lot to learn from them . :orking on new technology, doing path> breaking work, learning new skills, working with e=perts the company has on board, these are all sound lines to approach this question 75. $hat for you are the most important factors of an employee/s responsibility towards the or"ani%ation# $hese include constantly bringing your best abilities to do the work at hand, putting your time to productive use, being loyal to the company, being a good team player, valuing the work relationship, and being passionate about the products and services the company is offering 79. $hy do you want to leave your current -ob and -oin us# <ou may have to answer this question either in the company#s application form or at the interview 6e ready with a good answer <ou might say something like this% ,$his company is known all over the countryIworld and 0 would like to work for you . :henever possible, it is a good idea to come to a consensus with your current employer as to your reasons for leaving, as the new company might approach them to enquire about you "gain put the information you have gathered by research to good use <our effort should be to show how your skills and talents match with the company 0f you can impress on the interviewer that this is just the opportunity you have been looking for, great @ive several points as to how you can add value to the company Do not give

downgrade the previous employer if asked your reasons for leaving the job $his reflects badly on you <ou should come across as a positive, and enthusiastic individual who can be of value to the organiGation for many years to come 0deally, you should put across a sincere, long>term interest in the company> this creates the impression that you are not just job>hopping 7:. Tell us about what motivates you. $his is something only you can frame an answer to 0t is helpful to look into your past :hat were the times and occasions when you were highly charged; :hen was the time when you were not motivated; ?ooking into these situations helps to bring forth a concrete answer 7;. $hat are the essential qualities that make a "ood team player# 0t is better to answer this question taking the work conte=t :hat is the overall environment of the organiGation> what kind of work does it do; 0s the organiGation framework very strong; 0s the work atmosphere informal; "re the teams permanent or temporary; " person#s individual idea of a good team member might be different from what the organiGation needs <our aim is to present yourself as a good team member who meets the specific parameters of the organiGation " lot also depends on where you are in the structure> are you a new member, a team leader or in a support position; Consider all these factors before you answer this question "lso study what are the specific problems the company is facing in its team building and how you can contribute to solve them <ou need to make yourself into a good fit into the team and ensure cooperation from others 7<. $hy should we hire you for this position# $he answer to this question must be ready in your mind even before you submit your resume and prepare the cover letter Do your homework by researching into the organiGation and the job :hat are the requirements Le=t, take stock of your own skills, e=periences and interests :hich of these are matching with what the company needs; 0n other words, how can you add value to the company; Low form a strategy as to how you will prove that you are suitable for the job &ave concrete e=amples of your contributions to the previous employers and show enthusiasm for the job you are interviewing for Remember that you are at the interview to offer solutions to some specific problemsIrequirements of the organiGation 5>. $hat is your salary now# $his is a tricky question $he good side is that you have come to a stage where the company is going to make an offer to you $his is a good opportunity to discuss salary 0n case you are pressed to disclose your current salary, it is better to mention ranges or a total package rather than go for an e=act figure <ou can say something like the current package is on the higher side of five figures 9ome employers might ask to see your

salary slip or some such proof, therefore be sure not to lie $his punctures your credibility 0t is better to show that you are willing to take a step back as an investment in this new career $his is an area where you should market yourself well 0t is important to show why you like the job and how you are suited for it> the compensation is important, but not your first consideration 57. $hat do you consider as a reasonable startin" salary with us# 0deally you should stay away from talking about compensation till the company makes an offer &owever this does not happen in many situations and the company tries to figure out your price tag, so to say $his question might be used as a filter, so you need to give a response Research can help you here &ow is the general pay rate for this job; &ave you checked out other ads for similar jobs; Low consider your e=perience level and see if your e=perience matches this pay range $his can work as an indicator to calculate how much you can ask for 0t is also important to present your estimate in the right manner 0f you don#t have all the relevant information about the job so that you can present a reasonable range, say it and ask for what you need to know ,6efore we can talk about salary, 0 would like to know how many people will be reporting to me and what their e=perience and skill levels are. 0t is also possible to ask in a straightforward manner how other people in the same position are paid in this organiGation $ry to get as much information as possible, and then present your quote in the form of a range ,6ased on the information 0 have got now, 0 feel that a range of ( to ( would be appropriate for this position &owever 0 am quoting this outside of your standard benefits package. Peg this in such a way that there is some possibility of negotiation 55. *f you "ot a chance to "et into a merry0"o0round) what son" would you like to play# $hat animal would you choose# $his is one of those off>the>beaten>track questions $he first step towards answering this is not to feel embarrassed $his means just that the interviewer is creatively oriented )oreover this question is very much appropriate if you are interviewing for a creatively oriented job like an advertising copy writer 'njoy the situation and go with the flow $ry to give an answer that comes from within and reflects your real personality 6e ready to e=plain why you chose a particular songItune or animal "n anecdote from your e=perience would be a good idea 0f you can#t come up with any such stories, at least give a song you have always liked and held a special meaning for you " brief and interesting narration is what the interviewer is looking forward to $he same is true for the choice of animal <ou can choose an animal you like and tell them why 0t does not really matter which song or animal you choose> your e=planation of your choice is what makes all the difference A Final 'ound of Tips

Hkay, so now we saw some popular interview questions and some ways to tackle them ?et us finish off this session with a few general tips that help you towards success in interviews &ere are the tips

6e punctual "rrive at the venue at least !7 minutes before the appointed time <ou can in fact arrive just in time, but it is always better to reach a little early to avoid last minute tensions $his also gives you some time to rela= and collect yourself 6e courteous from the word go $his applies to the way you interact with the reception, other people who have come for the interview as well as the interview board itself 0t is very common for the company to leave some of their material like in>house magaGines in the lobby where you wait Kse your waiting time to read them @o for a firm handshake &owever this does not mean that you have to break bonesP Jirm and not hard is the word ?isten before you speak 0t is very important to understand the question properly Kse appropriate and moderate body language $his makes you appear natural and shows interest Do not hesitate to smile when needed "lso use nods and other non verbal feedback whenever needed @et your queries about the ne=t step clarified before you leave $hank the interviewer before leaving 9end a thank> you letter or email after the interview as a follow up

'esearch These $here are the important aspects you need to research before appearing for an interview $hese include the important products and services of the company, siGe *sales volumes, number of employees and turnover+, geographical locations where the company has its presence, the organiGational structure and major competitors 0t is great if you can get to see the perspectives of the company#s clients, suppliers and competition "nother major area is recent news about the company and news reports about events that affect the company