08/04/2015

Theonly2questionsthatmatteratyourjobinterviewAgendaTheWorldEconomicForum
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EmploymentSkillsandHumanCapital

Theonly2questions
thatmatteratyourjob
interview

ByArkadyItkin
Apr12015

Nomatterwhatandhowyourprospectiveemployerwillgoaboutinterviewingyou
andselectingtherightpersonforthathighlysoughtposition,thereareonlytwo
questionsthatreallymatterandthatyoushouldbereadytoanswertoaceyour
interview:whyusandwhyyou.
1.WhyUs
Itsreallyworthdoingyourhomeworkandfindingoutwhatmakesthiscompany
differentfromothers.Dotheyhaveuniqueclientsorworkphilosophythatsdifferent
fromtheircompetitors?Whatisitaboutthehistoryofthecompanyortheir
managementthatsappealingtoyou.Afteryoustudythecompanyswebsite,lookat
thebiographiesoftheCompanyCEOandtopmanagement.Areyouimpressedwith
theircredentialsandbelieveyoucouldlearnfromhowtheywork?Thenproudly
sayso.Doyouliketheproductortheservicethecompanyisproviding?Thentell
theinterviewingmanagerthatyoureallywanttobepartoftheteamthatmakesthis
greatproduct/serviceevenbetter.
Whyusisaboutwhatmakesthecompanysogreatandsodesirabletoyouandnot
whyyouthinktheyaregoodenoughforyoutoworkat.Thereisnoplacefor
showinganykindofsenseofentitlementduringyourjobinterview,unlessyouare
somekindoffamousawardwinningprofessional.Arroganceinajobcandidateis
oneofthebiggestandsadlymostcommonturnoffstorecruitersinajobcandidate.
2.WhyYou
Thetrickinansweringthisquestionistellingyourprospectiveemployerwhyyouare
sogreatwithoutsayingit.Talkaboutyourpriorworkexperienceandyourinterestin
thatfieldofwork.Talkaboutyourideasthatyoubelievewouldbeveryusefultothe
teamyouwanttoworkwith.Shareotherobjectivefactsandquantifiable
accomplishments(i.e.howyouincreasedyourprioremployerssalesinthepast,
reducedexpenses,etc.)aboutwhyyouaregoodatwhatyoudo,andwhyyouwould
beagoodfitforthecompanywithoutusinggeneric,selfservingclicheadjectives
thatshouldonlybeusedasbulletpointsinaresume,ifatall,andsoundlike
https://agenda.weforum.org/2015/04/theonly2questionsthatmatteratyourjobinterview/?utm_content=buffer4adaa&utm_medium=social&utm_source

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08/04/2015

Theonly2questionsthatmatteratyourjobinterviewAgendaTheWorldEconomicForum

bragging,i.e.Iamattentivetodetail,goaloriented,reliable,hardworker,etc..
Keeptheabovetwoquestionsinmindwhenpreparingforajobinterviewinanyfield
anditwillreallyhelpyoufocusonwhatreallymatterstoyouandtothatpotential
employer.
ThisarticleispublishedincollaborationwithLinkedIn.Publicationdoesnotimply
endorsementofviewsbytheWorldEconomicForum.
TokeepupwiththeAgendasubscribetoourweeklynewsletter.
Author:ArkadyItkinisacivillitigationattorneyspecializinginawiderange
ofemploymentrelatedissues,claimsandwrongfulterminationcases,aswellas
seriouspersonalinjurycases,andbusinesslitigation.
Image:EmployeestalkatofficesindowntownMadrid.REUTERS/SusanaVera.
PostedbyArkadyItkin10:40
Allopinionsexpressedarethoseoftheauthor.TheWorldEconomicForumBlogisanindependentandneutralplatform
dedicatedtogeneratingdebatearoundthekeytopicsthatshapeglobal,regionalandindustryagendas.
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Jointhediscussion
ramjiyahoo 6daysago

whyuswhynotpreviousemployer,,whyuwhynotthepreviousemployee(why
didshe/heleave)

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