Project Management Interview Tips

For some people, interviewing for a position may be harder than performing the work that comes with a new job. Interviewers search for different qualities, characteristics and skills in each person they hire, and you may find different requirements for the same position at different employers. A construction project manager is responsible for handling a team and overseeing a specific task, and interviewers will look for key information during an interview.

Job-Specific Questions

Some interviewers will ask specific questions regarding project managing in general. These questions can include: In your opinion, what are the most important tasks a project manager performs? What information does a project manager need about his workers or the project at hand to be successful? Where in your work or education history have you acquired the skills and information to perform successfully in this role? Regardless of the position, many companies will ask you questions regarding your relationship to the company. Interviewers will want to know what attracted you to this position in particular, and why you feel that you will be a good fit for the company. How will it benefit you to work for this company in particular, and how will it benefit the company to hire you above the dozens of other applicants for this position?

Scheduling

A project manager is responsible for a lot of scheduling work to ensure that the project is completed on time. Interviewers will generally ask questions regarding your organization and scheduling skills. Questions may include asking you to highlight other projects that you have completed successfully and on time. How do you plan out a large-scale project ahead of time? How do you adjust for unexpected factors like weather, injury or illness? How do you make decisions regarding delineating responsibility among your crew members?

Staff Members

While the project manager may focus primarily on completing his assigned task, he is also responsible for a team of workers, and must be able to work with them productively.

Interviews may ask you to highlight experiences you have working with and directing a crew of workers. How would you deal with a worker who decided he did not want to work, or a crew member who is less productive than all the others? How do you settles disputes among coworkers, or deal with workers that may have negative views of you, other managers or the company as a whole?

Project Management Interview: Questions and Answers

During the project management interview you will be asked interview questions that focus on your training and experience with the successful delivery of different projects. You can also expect behavioral or competency-based questions that explore essential project manager skills such as team building and team management, planning and organizing, negotiation, problem-solving, leadership and adaptability. Lets start with the likely project management interview questions that explore your experience on project delivery.

Tell us about your experience in managing different projects and how this can contribute to our position.
It is important to structure your interview answer because this is a multi-layered and fairly complex question. Start by explaining how you will answer the question. This keeps your answer on track and to the point. "I will begin by giving you a short description of my last three projects. I will then detail the skills and abilities I developed as a result of each project and then demonstrate the value of these skills to this position." You can then go on to provide a brief but concise summary of each project. "I was the project manager for the XYZ project and this involved ..." Then describe the skills you acquired during the project. "I encountered a number of difficulties on this project that required an innovative approach. I used group problem solving sessions as one of these approaches. This worked well because it helped each team member to clarify their particular project role and responsibility and we were able to develop plans and realistic schedules that the whole project team contributed to ..."

Demonstrate how these skills will benefit the position and company. "Projects now are faced with tighter budgets and fewer resources. This approach maximizes the available resources and keeps everyone focused and motivated for the duration of the project..."

Describe how you recently managed a diverse project team towards a common goal.
Focus on your ability to delegate in a fair and practical way, how you clearly defined project roles and responsibilities, kept personality clashes and conflict to a minimum and monitored and fed back to the project team. Outline your management style and why it worked.

Describe the most complex project you have managed from start to finish.
Provide a comprehensive answer remembering to explain the project as you would to a client and not to somebody who has been involved in the project. The more complex a project the more formal processes and techniques are needed to effectively manage the work. Explain the purpose, value and implementation of the most critical aspects of the project including managing the project work plan, the project schedule, the project risks, the project issues and closing the project. Be enthusiastic about your accomplishments and specify how your experience will benefit the company. Point out where you made a difference on the project in terms of expenditure, quality, efficiency, customer satisfaction and business and organizational success.

Standard Project Management Interview Questions:

How do you determine realistic schedules for the project? Explain your methods for resource allocation. How do you manage suppliers? How do you inform all the stakeholders of the progress of the project on a regular basis? How do you monitor risks to the project and mitigate them? What tools do you use to monitor and control projects? What project management methodologies are you most familiar with?

What project software have you used? What change management processes have you used to ensure that change is introduced properly? What are the practices you follow for closing a project and meeting the conditions required to establish closure? What specific training have you had that would be relevant to this project manager job? Answer your interview questions in a calm and assertive tone. Take time to gather your thoughts before answering, it is a key project manager skill to be able to process the facts before responding!

100 Project Manager Interview Questions

The below questions are for hire a Project Manager. This can also be used for evaluating already hired project managers. 1. How do you handle non-productive team members? 2. How do you motivate team members who are burned out, or bored? 3. How do you handle team members who come to you with their personal problems? 4. What are your career goals? How do you see this job affecting your goals? 5. Explain how you operate interdepartmentally. 6. Tell me how you would react to a situation where there was more than one way to accomplish the same task, and there were very strong feelings by others on each position. 7. Consider that you are in a diverse environment, out of your comfort zone. How would you rate your situational leadership style? 8. Give me an example of your leadership involvement where teamwork played an important role. 9. Tell me about a situation where your loyalty was challenged. What did you do? Why? 10. In what types of situations is it best to abandon loyalty to your manager? 11. In todays business environment, when is loyalty to your manager particularly important? 12. Why are you interested in this position? 13. Describe what you think it would be like to do this job every day. 14. What do you believe qualifies you for this position? 15. What have you learned from your failures? 16. Of your previous jobs, which one did you enjoy the most? What did you like the most/least? Why? What was your major accomplishment? What was your biggest frustration? 17. Tell me about special projects or training you have had that would be relevant to this job. 18. What are some things that you would not like your job to include?

19. What are your current work plans? Why are you thinking about leaving your present job? 20. Describe an ideal job for you. 21. What would you do if you found out that a contractor was in a conflict of interest situation? 22. If I were to contact your former employee, what would he say about your decisionmaking abilities? 23. Give me an example of a win-win situation you have negotiated. 24. Tell me about your verbal and written communication ability. How well do you represent yourself to others? What makes you think so? 25. Give me an example of a stressful situation you have been in. How well did you handle it? If you had to do it over again, would you do it differently? How do you deal with stress, pressure, and unreasonable demands? 26. Tell me about a tough decision you had to make? 27. Describe what you did at your work place yesterday. 28. How would you solve the following technical problem? (Describe a typical scenario that could occur in the new position.) 29. What strengths did you bring to your last position? 30. Describe how those contributions impacted results? 31. What are the necessary steps to successful project management? 32. How do you plan for a project? 33. What is important to consider when planning a (your type of project)? 34. What are things that you have found to be low priority when planning for (your type of project)? 35. What distinguishes a project from routine operations? 36. What are the three constraints on a project? 37. What are the five control components of a project? 38. What qualifications are required to be an effective project manager? 39. What experience have you had in project management? 40. Name five signs that indicate your project may fail. 41. Tell us about a project in which you participated and your role in that project. 42. When you are assigned a project, what steps do you take to complete the project? 43. As you begin your assignment as a project manager, you quickly realise that the corporate sponsor for the project no longer supports the project. What will you do? 44. Your three month project is about to exceed the projected budget after the first month. What steps will you take to address the potential cost overrun? 45. Tell us about a successful project in which you participated and how you contributed to the success of that project. 46. You are given the assignment of project manager and the team members have already been identified. To increase the effectiveness of your project team, what steps will you take? 47. You have been assigned as the project manager for a team comprised of new employees just out of college and entry-level consulting staff. What steps can you take to insure that the project is completed against a very tight time deadline? 48. What is a project milestone? 49. What is project float?

50. Your project is beginning to exceed budget and to fall behind schedule due to almost daily user change orders and increasing conflicts in user requirements. How will you address the user issues? 51. Youve encountered a delay on an early phase of your project. What actions can you take to counter the delay? Which actions will have the most effect on the result? 52. Describe what you did in a difficult project environment to get the job done on time and on budget. 53. What actions are required for successful executive sponsorship of a project? 54. How did you get your last project? 55. What were your specific responsibilities? 56. What did you like about the project and dislike about the project? 57. What did you learn from the project? 58. Tell me about a time when you ran into any difficult situations. How did you handle them? 59. Tell me about the types of interaction you had with other employees. 60. Tell me of an accomplishment you are particularly proud of and what it entailed. 61. Do you have people from your past consulting services who would provide a professional reference? 62. What other similar consulting or independent contractor services have you rendered? 63. Discuss how you would envision working as an independent contractor or consultant for us. 64. What conflicting responsibilities will you have? 65. What would be your specific goals for this new role as a consultant or independent contractor? 66. What experience do you have that you think will be helpful? 67. This assignment will require a lot of [describe]. Will that be a problem for you? 68. This assignment will require interacting with [describe the types of people]. What experience do you have working with such people? 69. What would you like to get from this new assignment? 70. What are two common but major obstacles for a project like this? What would you do in the face of these obstacles to keep your team on schedule? 71. What is project charter? What are the elements in a project charter? 72. Which document will you refere for future decisions? 73. How will you define scope? 74. What is the output of scope definition process? 75. What is quality management? 76. Do you inspect or plan for quality ? 77. What is EVM? how will you use it in managing projects? 78. What is a project? and what is program? 79. What are project selection methods? 80. Which tool would you use to define, manage and control projects? 81. What is risk management and how will you plan risk response? 82. What are outputs of project closure? 83. What are the methods used for project estimation? 84. What methods have you used for estimation? 85. How would you start a project?

86. If you were to deliver a project to a customer, and timely delivery depended upon a sub-supplier, how would you manage the supplier? What contractual agreements would you put in place? 87. In this field (the field you are interviewing for), what are three critically important things you must do well as a project manager in order for the project to succeed? 88. What metrics would you expect to use to determine the on-going success of your project? 89. How are your soft skills? Can you sell the project to a team? 90. You have a team member who is not meeting his commitments, what do you do? 91. Companies have historically looked at technical skills, but more and more business managers are realizing that not have people skills tend to cripple projects. 92. How many projects you handled in the past? Deadlines met? On time/ within budget? Obstacles you had to overcome? 93. Do you understand milestones, interdependencies? Resource allocation? 94. Do you know what Project Software the new company uses and is there training for it? 95. Tell me about yourself. (To avoid rambling or becoming flustered, plan your answer.) 96. What are your strengths? (Make an exhaustive list and review it exhaustively before the interview.) 97. What are your weaknesses? (What you say here can and will be used against you!) 98. How would your current (or last) boss describe you? 99. What were your bosss responsibilities? (Interviewers sometimes ask this question to prevent you from having the chance to claim that you did your bosss job. Be ready for it!) 100. Whats your opinion of them? (Never criticize your past or present boss in an interview. It just makes you look bad!)

1. Interview questions samples of Construction project manager

Tell me a little about yourself? Where would you like to be in five years? Ten years? What made you choose to apply to Construction project manager? What have you learned from your past jobs? Why did you leave your last job? Tell me about your last position and what you did? What do you know about the position of Construction project manager? What are key tasks for Construction project manager? What are top 3 knowledge/top 3 skills for Construction project manager? What are KRAs/output of position: Construction project manager? How to measure/appraise your position: Construction project manager? What do you know about this company? Describe two or three major trends in your did you choose this profession/field? What tertiary qualifications have you attained that related to Construction project

manager? What is the most recent skill you have learned that related to Construction project manager? What are your strengths and weaknesses?

2. Job description sample of Construction project manager

How to create interview questions for Construction project manager by yourself? You can follow some steps as follows: Identify key tasks of Construction project manager. Then identify job specs to do this job. Identify job goals, objectives, KRAs, KPIs. Use 5W1H methods to create interview questions for Construction project manager. Below are some key tasks of Construction project manager: Lead contract negotiations with the General Contractor (and other sub-contractors). Prepare the sub-contract agreement document. Coordinate schedule needs with the Project Manager and assure that construction activities meet material delivery dates. Review proposals and contract requirements. Insure that construction costs are accurately estimated and that profit targets are met. Insure that schedules are met and system performance. Is not compromised by organizing activities and monitoring the performance of the General Contractor and other sub-contractors. Identify construction risks and prepare action plans to mitigate exposure. Work with the Project Manager (design/supply scope) to develop the Schedule A (scope split) document.

Instructions
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1. 1 Look for the credentials. A prospective employee for a construction project management position may look the part and may say the right things, but he must be certified. In most cases you should require a Project Management Professional (PMP) designation. The PMP can be obtained through the Project Management Institute (PMI), the globally recognized nonprofit membership association for project managers. This certification shows an employee's competence and ability to lead project teams.

Ask about education. While education will most likely be listed on the prospective employee's resume, give her the opportunity to elaborate. Ask if her college or university required her to complete any exams given by the Constructor Certification Commission (CCC). The CCC administers semiannual exams to test knowledge of the field. Some institutions require completion of these exams before eligibility for graduation is considered. Ask the interviewee to show you her test scores.
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3 Weigh the prospective employee's ability to handle the project management position based on experience. Ask the interviewee what he could bring to the table. Pick a past position from his resume and ask him to elaborate on the job description. Ask him to give an example of a time when he was faced with a specific management problem, and ask how he solved the problem. Pay attention to his body language and take note of positive leadership qualities like dedication, creativity and assertiveness. You don't want a follower for this position.

Job Duties
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Managing and directing contractors is the job focus. The project manager inspects works in progress to ensure compliance with building, electrical and ventilation codes. His job requires solving problems related to labor, supplies and equipment.

Skill Requirements
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Thorough knowledge and understanding of government-mandated construction guidelines is necessary. Expertise in various construction tasks helps the manager to identify potential challenges and offer viable options. Scheduling and project coordination skills help him to ensure that deadlines are met.

Preferred Background
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A bachelor's degree in civil engineering, construction science, construction management or building science is preferred. Applicants with extensive experience and less education may be eligible. Experience in the construction industry is an asset.

A construction manager supervises the work of personnel on a construction site and ensures that safety measures are adequate. A project manager helps a company improve operating processes or information systems.

Construction Manager
A construction manager oversees activities involving the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities and systems. The manager also supervises the work of construction personnel. A construction manager usually has a bachelor's or associate degree in a business field and significant practical experience. As of 2010, the average annual salary for a construction manager was $75,000, according to job resources website Indeed.

Project Manager
A project manager applies computer skills and analytical dexterity to oversee activities in a corporate short-term or long-term initiative. Projects may relate to accounting, sales, information systems or compliance. A project manager position typically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology or a related field. The job information website Indeed states that project managers earned an average annual salary of $81,000 as of 2010.

Relationship
Project managers and construction managers perform different tasks. However, these tasks may interrelate in operating activities. For example, a construction manager may use project management techniques to plan staff duties and ensure quick work completion.

Construction Project Management Information

By Cherrine Banks, eHow Contributor

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Construction projects range in size. Companies and individuals can reduce potential problems by understanding project types and different construction risks.

Function
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Companies use construction project management to keep plans on schedule. Construction project managers monitor each step from beginning to end. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), construction managers select project workers and negotiate with building suppliers.

Types of Construction Projects

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Two types of construction projects involve building construction or heavy and civil engineering. A building construction project can involve residential homes in the suburbs. According to the United States Census Bureau, heavy and civil engineering construction can involve buildings and waterways, such as dams.

Considerations
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A construction project can experience risks, according to C-Risk.com. One type of risk is financial, such as projects going over schedule. Additional types of risks include poor construction equipment and problems with subcontractors.

Prevention/Solution
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Using a construction project manager requires interviewing qualified applicants. Companies should interview multiple applicants before making a final selection. It is important to verify each applicant's training and experience. Performing applicant verifications help companies from hiring an unskilled project manager who can not perform the job.

Construction Project-Management Procedures

By Cynthia Clark, eHow Contributor

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Construction management procedures are used to bring every building project to completion. Successful project management requires team leadership and coordination, according to the National Institute of Building Sciences. Diligent project planning and effective oversight of the delivery process for a construction project is key to maintaining the estimated time of completion and staying within budget while completing a quality project. The architectural design of the project adds variety to the way details of a project are managed; however, the project will follow basic construction procedures.

Project Preliminaries
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According to Carnegie Mellon University, construction projects have "a specific set of objectives and constraints" that are required within the time frame for successful completion. The project manager is the go-between the construction crews and upper management, maintaining contact with the architect, owners and finance department of the project. Construction project management requires skills of general project management and specialized knowledge related to various aspects of the project. For example, the project manager doesn't need to be skilled in welding but does need to understand the welding process and be able to identify quality welds and the time involved. The project manager must organize the different sets of building blueprints provided by the architect, as well as provide copies to local authorities and the subcontractor hired for the project.

Budgets, Estimates and Bids

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Once the architect has completed the blueprints, a budget is provided based on those blueprints to the construction project manager. Good financial management of the project requires obtaining estimates and bids on various aspects of the project, which are then organized and evaluated on which subcontract is able to provide the best work for the bid or estimate quoted. Once bids are accepted, the project manager secures the contracts and schedules the subcontractors and vendors.

Scheduling and Inspections

Carnegie Mellon University defines construction project scheduling as a means to match the resources of equipment, materials and labor with project work tasks. It's necessary to have materials, labor and equipment present at the time they're needed to prevent delays and expensive cost overruns. Failure to have a task completed by one subcontractor in a specific time frame results in the following subcontractor not being able to begin their work at a specified time. Properly scheduling the local inspections is another critical job for the construction project manager. Local building codes require inspections at specific phases of the construction process. For example, once the underground plumbing pipes have been set in place and connected to city services, the local inspector must offer his approval prior to the pouring of the foundational concrete. Failure to obtain the inspection before pouring the concrete would result in the removal of all newly laid concrete, resulting in great expense and schedule delays. Failure to schedule the inspection at the right time would also result in the subcontractors who are handling the concrete work to sit on-the-clock waiting for the inspection before they can begin performing their part of the construction project.

Prioritizing Techniques of Construction Project Management

By Marcus Cage, eHow Contributor

Construction projects entail specifc design elements.

All construction projects have certain design and financial elements. Though these components may differ in areas of cost and structure, project management is common to every construction project. Improper planning can result in difficult circumstances, such as structural and financial issues. Project managers must be cognizant of priority items associated with construction projects. Knowledge of these items will ensure the delivery of a project that is on time and within budget constraints. Related Searches:

Instructions
Things You'll Need
Project manager 1.

1 Manpower is needed on construction projects. Define the scope of your project. This is always the first and most important piece of planning priorities. The scope is the "how" and "what" of a construction project. The manpower and planning process are how the project will be completed. Financial resources and building materials determine what is needed to start and finish construction.

2 Project managers must communicate with stakeholders. Create a communication plan. Communication is of great importance concerning any project. A communication plan keeps everyone informed on the progress of the project. This includes executives, team members and customers.

3 Cost and budgeting is a major element of project managment. Estimate the outlay of the project by implementing cost and budget scheduling. Build a budget, and track time and money spent by using project management software.

4 Devise a quality management plan. Determine quality of work by devising a quality management plan. This method shifts the focus from time to quality. When focusing on producing a quality product, concentration will be placed on hiring high-class professionals and purchasing top-grade material. If quality management is active, all time constraints will be met.

Instruction Classes for Project Management in Construction

By Jody Hanson, eHow Contributor updated February 28, 2011

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Construction project management classes need to be theoretical and practical. Construction project management involves using administrative techniques to plan, design and construct a building, bridge or road for commercial or residential purposes. To manage a construction project, supervisors need to have a combination of theoretical, practical and people skills. They must know how to interpret a blueprint, stick to a budget and inspire the crew to stay focused on finishing the project on time. Balance your classes with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

Instructions
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1. 1 Start with an introduction to project management course. Stress the foundational requirements of construction project management and give the students an overview of what is required to successfully manage a construction project.

2 Teach the difference between commercial and residential construction methods. While managers tend to specialize in one or the other areas of construction, it is important that they have an understanding of the similarities and the differences.

3 Offer a course on construction documents and contracts. Project managers need to understand the paperwork required for construction, from preparing a quote through to doing a final inspection report.

4 Include a class on cost estimation and analysis. Show the students how to use sophisticated computer programs to help them with their bid preparations, as well as paper, pencil and calculator methodologies.

Lecture about the legal issues in construction. Make sure your project managers are knowledgeable about current real estate and zoning laws. Test them to make sure they won't make any mistakes that could be costly.
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6 Explain that construction site safety is paramount. Project managers on the construction site have to ensure that everyone adheres to the safety standards. Construction safety involves everything from wearing hard-hats and protective clothing to emergency first-aid.

7 Give lessons about mechanical systems. Construction project managers have to understand how electrical, plumbing and carpentry systems work.

The Importance of a Work Plan

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A work plan can help you manage tasks. Projects and tasks may appear to be endless and they very well could be without a work plan. A work plan is an important tool for identifying tasks of a project, setting deadlines and identifying individuals to help complete the tasks. A work, plan is effective when you know where you want to go and need to plan out the steps in order to get there.

A Work Plan Provides Transparency

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To accomplish your task at hand, a work plan is important in planning and management. The work plan structures your task with an outline of what needs to be completed. Where more than one person is involved in the task, a work plan provides transparency to each member on the team about what is being done and why. If, for example, the project requires funds, identifying a budget as part of the work plan can justify the release of money.

A Work Plan Keeps People Informed

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Regardless of whether your project involves an office team or a community, if the developments in a project or task are not communicated to the people involved, it can lead to frustration. A work plan is important in identifying points for communication. For example, if one of the tasks involved is the decision-making procedure on the purchase of supplies, an office worker may need to hear the points in the work plan and she may want to provide input to the administrative process. A work plan provides details on opportunities for feedback.

A Work Plan Sets Objectives

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Clear objectives set forth in a work plan help the process of planning, facilitating and managing a project. The work plan is important in planning the project's operations and related activities such as its budget. It may facilitate presentations and negotiations for funding or other project needs. The team leader is able to identify through the work plan the tasks at hand and the time lines for completion, as well as assigned roles for accountability for effective management. When the project is completed, an evaluation is planned to monitor the success of the project.

A Work Plan Keeps you On Track

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Effective work plans are current. You can determine where your project stands by taking an account of all the work done to date, its progress and scheduling of tasks. Regular communication with the team about the work plan's schedule will help to keep you on track or revise your schedule for more realistic time lines or to implement overtime if the schedule cannot be changed. Either way the work plan will help get the job done.

Definition of a Work Plan

Print this article A work plan describes a project to be accomplished and outlines how it will be done. It is also known as a project plan or a feasibility or proposal report.

Features
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The overall project is divided into a logical sequence of steps including time for completion of each step as well as the overall project, who does what and when and a budget.

Sections
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The order of a work plan's sections is as follows: executive summary/abstract; introduction, which explains the challenge/goal of the project; objectives/goals, which show what is to be accomplished; constraints/resources, which show what can be used; an actions/strategy section, which explains how things are to be accomplished; and appendices that include such things as the schedule and budget.

Calendar/ Time
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The work plan is set up with a start and completion chart for each individual job along with the individual(s) who are to complete it. Time is incorporated for allowing for meetings to reevaluate the progress of the project and make adjustments as needed.

Usage
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Work plans can be set up for anything from a simple project to a complex one that will be better executed through the use of planning.

Considerations
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The work plan can also be a way to keep the recipient of the project up-todate on how the work is progressing.

Components of a Work Plan

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A work plan is typed using word processing software and a computer. A work plan is a tool that describes the scope of work, generally for a project or program. It is developed by a design team and the project owner and contains a project description, key issues, goals and objectives, key strategies and several other important aspects of a project or program. A work plan serves as a guide for contractors, employees and owners.

Project Description
The first component of a work plan is a project or program description. A work plan begins by discussing the project or program it was created for. This is a short summary of the program. A work plan is generally created using word processing software and includes several key categories.

Key Issues
A work plan contains the key issues. All key issues of the project should be determined before beginning. Typically these issues are discussed at meetings between owners, contractors and employees. This should happen during the assessment stage of the project.

Goals and Objectives

Another vital component of a work plan is a section devoted to the goals and objectives of the program. During the assessment stage of the project, the goals and objectives must be determined and set before proceeding. Many companies use the SMART method when setting goals, which means goals should be specific, measurable, acceptable, realistic and timely.

Key Strategies
Identify key strategies for the project. After identifying and setting goals, a work plan lists the key strategies that will be used to accomplish the goals set. Milestones should be listed as well as any potential obstacles the company may encounter.

Resources
List all the resources that are required to successfully complete this program or project. This includes developing teams for the project, budget

information and facilities needed. Under this section, the important roles and responsibilities of teams and committees should be defined.

Time Line
Develop a time line. This component of a work plan should be given a great deal of thought. The time line should be achievable and should take into consideration any foreseen obstacles the company may encounter.

Measurement Tools
Determine ways to measure success. The last part of a work plan is the component of measurement tools. This component is vital to know whether the project is successful at many points. One measurement tool is the time line. By comparing the actual results to the time line, an organization measures how well the project is going compared with the targeted goals.

How to Prepare a Work Plan

By Shemiah Williams, eHow Contributor

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Whether it's an event, project or program, most businesses require a strategy or plan of action for how to develop and execute the task at hand. Although an investment of time is required upfront, a work plan is a powerful tool to communicate a plan as well as keeping all key staff accountable. Once a basic work plan template has been established, it can be adapted and used for a variety of initiatives. Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions
Things You'll Need

Pencil Paper Computer

The Steps
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Do some research. Spend some time gathering all the necessary information you need to understand what you're being asked to accomplish. 2 Outline the specific tasks that need to be completed in order to accomplish the task. 3 Assign deadlines for each task. 4 Indicate the staff that are responsible for each task. 5 Schedule a time to discuss the work plan with all involved staff to get their feedback. Adjust any deadlines or staff assignments as necessary.

How to Create an Effective Work Plan

By Natalie Grace, eHow Contributor

Use a work plan to help keep the project on track. A work plan is also called a project plan, which provides specifics on how a project will be performed. This includes who will work on each task, how the tasks will be performed and when the project will start and end. A work plan is useful as a planning tool, a management tool for a team leader, a strategy for monitoring and assessing or as an illustration of how the project operations are sequenced. Creating an effective work plan takes thought and careful execution.

How to Create Work Plans

By Chad Buleen, eHow Contributor

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Creating a work plan is important because it allows an employee the opportunity to show a manager how he plans to accomplish the things that are being asked of him. A work plan can help an employee show his worth because it quantifies and puts into words the things that an employee does that otherwise might be unnoticed. General work plans are sometimes created that relate to the overall work a person does. However, work plans are often most effective when they are broken down to specifically discuss the work associated with smaller projects. The more specific a work plan is, the more effective it likely will be. When creating work plans, there are a few things that should almost always be included. Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions
Things You'll Need
Word-processing software 1. 1 Open a new document in word-processing software such as a Microsoft Word. Create several headers on the document. The headers should be listed as: "Issues," "Goals," "Strategies," "Resources," "Timeline" and "Measurement."
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2 Under "Issues," describe the most important issues. A needs assessment meeting must precede the writing down of the key issues. During this meeting, team members can bring all of the project's important issues to light. The important issues should strike a balance by discussing the needs of all parties involved.

Under "Goals," make and record attainable goals. The goals described in a work plan should make you stretch to attain them yet they should not be unreachable. When making goals, remember the acronym SMART: The goals should be specific, measurable, acceptable, realistic and timely.
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4 Under "Strategies," include information about key strategies. This will probably be the longest and most comprehensive section of the work plan. Each of the major steps or milestones that must be met should be included here. Potential obstacles to the implementation of the strategies also should be discussed. Explain how these obstacles will be managed.

5 Under "Resources," discuss the resources needed to put the strategies into action. If there is a whole team working on the project, mention in the work plan the team members involved and what their responsibilities will be. If there is a significant investment in equipment or supplies involved, mention this as well.

6 Under "Timeline," make a timeline. Include highlights of the plan to create a timeline. Make sure to include the start date, the end date and the dates when specific events and goals will take place. This will allow yourself, fellow team members and management to be able to easily see if the project is on schedule.

7 Under "Measurement," Include methods of measurement. Discuss how you will determine the success of the project. This could include anecdotal evidence. However, it is best to include quantifiable ways in which success will be determined. Depending on the project, this could include the amount of sales, more incoming phone calls, more Web page visits and similar metrics.

JOB TIPS

Finding employment or changing careers seems to be getting more difficult these days, irrespective of where you live. I am sure we can all do with some guidance in this area at some time in our lives. Things such as When is the best time to look for work. Good habits to abide by when looking for work. How to structure your answer in a job interview. How to answer the question "How do your skills and experience relate to the position you are applying for?" Personality, humour and attire - how do they factor in a job interview. How to respond to an interview question if you do not know the answer. How to get job interviews. If fired by your previous employer, how to answer the question "Why did you leave your last job?" When asked what your salary requirements are, how to answer. References and how to use them. How to explain gaps in work experience. How to respond to "What are your strengths and weaknesses?"

The author of a newsletter launched in 2001 kindly gave us permission to reproduce some of their hints and tips.

Good Habits to Abide by When Looking for Work

Finding a job can, and should be, a job in itself. Unless you are extremely lucky, finding a job will be a trying and frustrating process. Rejection, depression, feelings of hopelessness can become an overwhelming force when looking for employment. The good news is, it can only be so, if you let it. The best way to effectively job hunt, while minimizing frustration, is to develop a routine. Make it a your job to find a job! One way to do this is to devise a weekly schedule of job hunting activities. For example; Monday morning could be the morning that you check local employment ads, newspapers etc. Tuesdays may be designated as the day that you work on producing covering letters and copies of your resume, Wednesdays may be the day that you send out your resumes and Thursdays may be the day that you follow up with potential employers on resumes you sent out the week prior. This is just an example of a routine and it may not be right for you. The point is, develop a routine that works for you and stick to it. Developing a routine allows you to get a greater sense of control. Many people let the "job hunting blues" get to them because they cannot motivate themselves. They will often times let one incident where they were rejected by an employer, put a damper on future job searches. A routine will allow you to feel like you are making progress. Although you may not see immediate results, you will end each day knowing that you are one step closer to finding an opportunity. A routine also will prepare you for the working world where you will be expected to keep certain working hours. In the end, you will find that a regimented approach will translate into greater opportunities! Another golden rule of job searching is never to take a rejection personally. Rejection is very much part of job searches. You will likely encounter numerous rejection letters or negative

responses before you find someone who will grant you an interview or give your application due consideration. Take it in stride and tell yourself that it was worth at least getting your name known to the company. Often times, employers are impressed by the manner in which a person accepts rejection. "

I can find no trace of this publication on the internet so cannot confirm if it is, in fact, still available. The information, however, is as relevant today as when originally posted so I thought I would continue to feature it on Hints and Things.

How to Structure Your Answer in a Job Interview?

There are a variety of formats that are used to conduct job interviews. Sometimes you will be before a panel of people who will take turns asking you questions. Sometimes only one person will be meeting with you to ask questions. Some employers may also conduct phone interviews prior to inviting you for an "in person" meeting. Despite the format, one of the key components to a successful interview is to keep the employer focussed. Focussed on what you may be wondering? Focussed on you! On what you are saying and the message you are trying to get across. When attending an interview, you are up against many distractions that may have you fighting to keep the attention of those asking the questions. Bear in mind that people are people and employers, just like you and I, can get easily bored, can have other things on their minds, and might be suffering from interview fatigue. In some cases, you may be the fourteenth person they are interviewing and they may be tired. Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of interviewing, from an employer's point of view, is having to sit through long-winded and rambling answers or having to search for the point in what the applicant is saying. Combine this with the fact that the interviewers may be approaching fatigue, and you are looking at a no win situation. So...how do you fight the odds and maximize your chances of success? One of the most effective ways is to structure your answers. Structuring your answers will ensure that you are concise and to the point with your responses. It will have a positive effect on the interview panel, particularly if they just sat through a previous interview with a candidate who was long winded and was rambling. There are many ways that an interview panel decides if you will be hired. Sometimes it is be a formal scoring system in which they are looking for certain content in the responses, or sometimes it is an informal evaluation. It can also be any variation or combination of the two. Structuring your answers works in spite of the format being used. Let's look at an example: A Non-Structured Approach: Interview Panel: Tell us about your experience in project management and how your experience can make a difference to our company. Job Applicant: Well, I am managing a project called Trans-go which I have done for the last fourteen months. I also managed a construction project in the late eighties but just before my current job, I was a project manager for IBIX Software Inc. I delivered on each project and I was on budget except for the IBIX job which had its budget cut. Presently, at T.R.Z.I., I am ahead of schedule and the steering committee is pleased. * The problem with this answer is that it is unstructured and incoherent. If the answer is hard to follow, you can be sure that you will lose points in its evaluation. Employers do not want to search for the answer; they want you to present it clearly.

Let's look at the same question, this time with a structured answer. Interview Panel: Tell us about your experience in project management and how your experience can make a difference to our company. Job Applicant: I would like to begin by providing a brief description of the last three positions I have had as a project manager. I will then describe the skills I have acquired as a result of my experience. Lastly, I will demonstrate how these skills will allow your company to move forward on its goals and objectives. (At this point, the panel knows that you have understood the question. They know, in advance, how you will be presenting your answer. They are thus "tuned in" and ready to listen. Equally as important, you have given yourself a structure to follow to keep on track.) The following are some excerpts of the answer: My present position is with Sunnex Inc where I am the Project Manager for Trans-go ; a project that will result in the complete automation of freight car shipping. Prior to that I was Project Manager for..... In all of these positions, I encountered obstacles and challenges that threatened the project's success. I learned to overcome these challenges by employing creative approaches and group problem solving. I was thus able to keep each project on time, within budget and within the desirable quality of result. I did this by........ I am aware that your company is in the process of downsizing and that resources are fewer today than they were last year. I am also aware that, in spite of this, your customers demand greater quality of service. My experience in devising creative solutions to complex problems is one of the many ways that I can make a difference....... You will notice that the answer follows the structure. Structuring your answer works especially well when the questions are multi-layered and long or otherwise complex. It forces you, and the interviewers, to break the question and the answer down. It also provides them with a clear presentation of the answer which incites better scoring. The best way to structure an answer is to announce how you will answer the question, before you begin answering it. This announcement helps the interviewers to understand your answer and keeps you "on track". In this JobTip, we have used a fairly complex example from the world of project management. Bear in mind however, that you can structure an answer to almost any question. Questions like: Why do you want this position? Why are you the best candidate for the job? What are your strengths and weaknesses? can also be answered more effectively by structuring the answer. The point of this JobTip is, structure your answers! It will keep your answer "on track" and will maximize your scoring potential. Structuring your answer is like reading the outside of a paperback novel. The brief description of what is to come gets the reader's attention. The story inside keeps the readers attention.

In addition to the project manager interview questions that assess your technical skills and experience you will be asked interview questions that explore your soft skills. These

are the behaviors identified as necessary for survival and success as a project manager in today's tumultuous business environment. The focus is on behavioral-based interview questions as they are used more and more in assessing suitability for a project manager job. The behavioral interview and how to answer behavioral questions is explained thoroughly at The Behavioral Interview Guide. Go through these project manager interview questions and answer guidelines to help prepare for success in your project manager job search. Give me an example of how you used your leadership skills to help your project team meet a difficult challenge. An effective project manager needs to lead though setting goals and using the right methods to guide and influence the project team towards goal attainment. Good leaders enable team members to feel they have a real stake in the project and encourage them to participate in problem-solving and decision-making. When answering project manager interview questions about leadership show how you understand the need to communicate and consult but are also aware that lots of talking and procrastination achieves nothing without deciding and taking action. Effective project managers lead by example and are open and honest about the challenges they face. They recognize the important of collective team effort in achieving the desired results. They are able to identify and use the strengths of each team member and allocate roles and responsibilities accordingly. This empowers team members to respond to the challenges that arise. Those that excel as project managers keep the project team motivated to give of their best to meet these challenges. They understand the appropriate management style to use with each team member at the different stages of team development. They know how to best utilize the competencies of the team and each team member to deal with challenges and problems. Describe a time when your communication and interpersonal skills helped in dealing with difficult clients or team members. After leadership, the ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels is regarded as the second most important project manager skill. Good project management requires clear communication about objectives, roles, responsibilities, performance, expectations and feedback. The project manager should be able to effectively influence and persuade clients and the team to ensure success. Explicit guidelines and expectations should be communicated to accomplish results. When answering this question it is important to show how you are able to adapt your style of communication to the person you are dealing with. Empathy, understanding and self-awareness all play a role in doing this. The ability to communicate with different

individuals on various levels with diverse project interests is important for successful project management. Every project team and every project is different, you must be able to adjust your style to their needs. Included in communication skills is the ability to be enthusiastic about the shared goals and vision. Enthusiastic project managers are committed to their goals and express this through optimistic and confident communication. Be aware of your communication style during the interview including your body language and other non-verbal signals. Use the Communication Tips for Job Interviews to get advice on how to communicate effectively in your project manager interview. Give an example of a win-win situation you negotiated In all projects there are a number of stakeholders who all see their concerns and issues as the most important. You can also expect Behavioral Interview Questions that explore essential project manager competencies such as team building and team management, planning and organizing, negotiation, problem-solving, leadership and adaptability. We start with the likely project management interview questions that explore your experience on project delivery. Tell us about your experience in managing different projects and how this can contribute to our position. It is important to structure your interview answer because this is a multi-layered and fairly complex question. Start by explaining how you will answer the question. This keeps your answer on track and to the point. "I will begin by giving you a short description of my last three projects. I will then detail the skills and abilities I developed as a result of each project and then demonstrate the value of these skills to this position." You can then go on to provide a brief but concise summary of each project. "I was the project manager for the XYZ project and this involved ..." Then describe the skills you acquired during the project. "I encountered a number of difficulties on this project that required an innovative approach. I used group problem solving sessions as one of these approaches. This worked well because it helped each team member to clarify their particular project role and responsibility and we were able to develop plans and realistic schedules that the whole project team contributed to ..."

Demonstrate how these skills will benefit the position and company. "Projects now are faced with tighter budgets and fewer resources. This approach maximizes the available resources and keeps everyone focused and motivated for the duration of the project..." Describe how you recently managed a diverse project team towards a common goal Focus on your ability to delegate in a fair and practical way, how you clearly defined project roles and responsibilities, kept personality clashes and conflict to a minimum and monitored and fed back to the project team. Outline your management style and why it worked. Describe the most complex project you have managed from start to finish Provide a comprehensive answer remembering to explain the project as you would to a client and not to somebody who has been involved in the project. The more complex a project the more formal processes and techniques are needed to effectively manage the work. Explain the purpose, value and implementation of the most critical aspects of the project including managing the project work plan, the project schedule, the project risks, the project issues and closing the project. Be enthusiastic about your accomplishments in your project management interview and specify how your experience will benefit the company. Point out where you made a difference on the project in terms of expenditure, quality, efficiency, customer satisfaction and business and organizational success.

QA Interview Questions
QA interview questions that focus on the candidate's quality assurance tools, knowledge and competencies.

QA skills are transferrable from one company to another and quality assurance professionals should be able to move from one industry to another and remain productive. These questions explore the transferrable skills and abilities needed in the quality assurance role. What experience do you have in developing the quality assurance manual? QA professionals are expected to create and implement formal written documentation. What role have you played in planning and developing a QA manual? Take the interviewer through the steps you took to review and assess existing procedures, identify

modifications or updates required, formalize the procedures and gain approval for the manual. What is the role of formal documentation in quality assurance? Your answer should highlight the importance of documentation in a complete quality process. Focus on the benefits afforded by documentation such as accountability, the completeness of a process, consistency, deadline compliance, improved communication and availability of records. How have you used data to improve process and products? Show how you have used data analysis to make sound decisions for process improvements. What statistical knowledge do you have and how have you applied appropriate statistics to pinpoint problems and make business decisions? Use a specific example to support your answer to QA interview questions around data analysis tools, techniques and applications. What customer interface have you had in dealing with quality issues? QA interview questions like this are exploring your direct experience with customers. The organization's main focus must be to satisfy their customers. Focus on how you managed the customer's concerns and how you dealt professionally and promptly with the quality problem. Discuss your corrective action plan. Describe your experience with quality audits. What audits have you conducted? What were the goals of the audit? How did you prepare for it? The planning and preparation for a quality audit is key to ensuring the effectiveness of that audit. How did you monitor the audit findings? How did you control the corrective actions? What is the most critical defect you found in a recent project? Focus on how you defined the problem, the tools and resources you used to analyze the problem and the solutions you were able to generate. How will you begin to improve the QA process in this company? Take the interviewer through the steps you took in your last quality assurance job to improve QA process. Focus on your evaluation of current practices, how did you decide which practices to retain and which to modify? Consider time budget and resources available in the company. What quality management tools and principles did you use to address system deficiencies, enhance strengths and improve processes? Use the four step approach, identify, analyze, develop, test and implement to structure your answer.

How do you see the role of the quality professional in an organization? Quality professionals can be regarded as catalysts for organizational change, they are key to understanding how the processes of the organization are related and the connection between planning and profit. Back up your answers to QA interview questions with a recent work example. For behavioral quality assurance interview questions go to Quality Assurance Interview Questions. These QA interview questions explore the key behaviors or competencies required in a quality assurance job. Project Manager Interview Questions and Answers that explore quality assurance in a project management setting. The Project Management Interview Questions Guide is a useful resource to help you prepare for your QA interview. For common job interview questions and sample answers go to Job Interview Questions. Prepare well for your quality assurance interview and get the job you want.

Project Manager Interview

Questions and answers to prepare for your project manager interview.

These project management interview questions explore your relevant experience and skills for the project manager job. The questions look at your understanding and approach to key project management responsibilities. What are the necessary steps to successful project management? What is your understanding and experience of the project manager role? Include aspects such as setting clear project objectives, building the project requirements, managing project cost, time, quality and scope. Refer in you answer to the specific steps you took to successfully manage and close a recent project. What are the priorities to consider when planning a project in your field? Refer again to a recent project and outline your most important considerations in the planning stage. Time, scope and budget are the usual constraints to consider, but how did you allocate and integrate all the necessary inputs to meet the project objectives and plan for risk?

The more in-detail the planning the greater the chances of project success. Highlight how each activity that is expected during the course of the project gets due attention. In your experience what are the warning signs that your project may fail? All project managers have had this experience. How did you pick up the warning signal (your monitoring and control processes and systems) and how did you manage it (corrective actions and implementing changes)? Warning signals can include constantly changing specifications, lack of interest from executive management, incompetence on the project team, changes in the business environment and inadequate resources. A project manager has to understand the uniqueness of each project and keep checking the projects contours against what they have learned on previous projects. What are the most important considerations when recruiting and building an effective project team? Project management is all about team work. Your ability to effectively manage a team is essential.

Job Interview Questions and Answers

The most effective way to prepare for an interview is to anticipate the job interview questions you will be asked and plan your best answers.

Use these professional job interviewing techniques to prepare your own answers, practice them out loud, ask your family and friends for feedback and edit as you go. This preparation ensures a skillful interview performance as you present yourself as the right candidate for the job.

This builds your confidence and greatly increases your chances of success in the job interview. Interviewers typically use a number of standard questions, regardless of the job being interviewed for. We discuss these Interview Questions and Answers from the opening "Tell me about yourself" to "Why do you want to leave your job?" and provide advice and insight on how to prepare your own excellent interview answers.

It is essential to conduct background research on the job and company to develop answers that are relevant and We also focused. Work through the include good sample answers to help you. recommended background research strategies to gather the information you need before the job interview. Interviewers are consistently impressed by candidates who are well informed and able to demonstrate the relevance of their skills and experience in answering a job interview question.

A large number of interviewers use the Behavioral Interview to explore a candidate's job suitability. Develop a good understanding of this type of interview and familiarize yourself with a list of typical behavioral interview questions. Go through the behavioral interview answer guidelines to plan expert answers and prove to the interviewer how your skills and abilities best meet the job requirements. Use the Search Box below to find interview answer advice and help for all interview questions.

Gaps in your resume, reasons for leaving previous jobs and other tricky areas can give rise to tough interview questions. Get advice on giving effective and professional Job Interview Answers to these difficult questions. Illegal interview questions can pop up anytime during the interview. Become skilled at recognizing these questions and be fully prepared to deal with them in a professional manner.

Interview Questions and Answers often begin with:

Tell me about yourself
In your answer highlight This is one of the most common interview questions and how your skills, answers are tough to formulate. Where to start, where to end, knowledge and what to focus on! experience relate to the job and the company Prepare for this question and you can use it as a great profile. opportunity to sell yourself! Where you were born and grew up, or what pets you have is not likely to show the interviewer why you are a good candidate for the job opportunity. The interviewer wants to know if you will fit in with the rest of the team, the department and the company. The interviewer is also trying to find out what motivates you and whether it is consistent with what the job and the employer offer.

Refer to your background research and review the job requirements, focus on how you specifically meet these needs. For example, if the job requires you to work as part of a team, tell the interviewer about the projects you have undertaken as a team-member. Most jobs require an element of team work, so this is a good aspect to focus on when thinking about answers to this interview question Use this sample answer to help prepare your own good interview answer to this question:

"In my previous 2 positions I worked as part of a team on a number of projects. A big project I was involved with at ABC company was writing a new safety policy. It was a really in-depth project so I put together a safety review committee. We worked together for a month to identify the safety needs of the various departments and what procedures would meet those needs. Our policy has been well accepted and safety problems have decreased in all areas" By pointing out to the Interviewer the specific benefits of hiring you for this job, rather than giving a rambling autobiography, you will be positively remembered and set yourself apart from the other candidates. The interviewer has probably already read your Resume or CV, so avoid just repeating that information during the interview questions and answers. For example, when talking about your sales experience, rather than telling the interviewer "I spent three years in sales at XYZ Company" draw attention to your success during that time. "When working at XYZ I focused on growing the customer base in the Northeast and increased sales by 50% over a three year period" It is impressive to quantify your success wherever possible. Use your job interview information from conducting research on the company to emphasize how you fit in. For example your information indicates that the company has a strong responsibility to the community, you can point out why you value that, discuss any volunteer work you have done, underline why it is one of the things that attracts you to them.

"I know that this company sponsors some of the local youth football teams. This is a particular interest of mine, last year I got involved in coaching. It is important to me that the company holds the same values" If you do not have enough information about the position to prepare adequately for this question beforehand, ask the interviewer "What areas would you like me to focus on?" and go from there. Interviewers like to ask a variation of this question that can be a bit more tricky - "Tell me something about yourself that is not on your resume." These Example Answers for Interviews will help you deal successfully with this interview question. Prepare for frequently asked Employer Interview Questions such as "What is your greatest achievement?" by viewing these sample interview answers. Refer to the Specific Job Interview Guides to know which interview questions to expect for positions from accounting to sales. Use the recommended guidelines to prepare for your job interview questions and answers. This interview question is often included in Group Interview Questions.

"What are your strengths?"

Make sure your answer to this interview question is relevant. Tailor your strengths to the job and highlight why they qualify you as the right candidate for the job opportunity. Don't make the mistake of frustrating the interviewer as you describe what a great athlete you are and list your latest sports achievements during your sales job interview. However, with some thought you can translate almost all of your strong-points into jobrelevant attributes that will contribute to your success in the job. When answering this job interview question you can point out how the determination and discipline you need to be a good athlete are certainly important strengths in a sales position. Free interview answers include: "To achieve as an athlete I had to stick to a tough training program and make sure I kept myself motivated . I had to be disciplined and determined. I believe these strengths strongly contribute to my success in sales"

Candidates often find it hard to verbalize their strengths, so spend some time thinking about this before the interview.

What are your interests? Building beautiful doll house furniture may not immediately seem to have any relevance to that accounting position, but the attention to detail needed for this is definitely a job-relevant strength. What have been your successes, what attributes did you have to demonstrate to achieve them? Ask your friends, colleagues and family to tell you what they appreciate about you. How will these attributes benefit a future employer?

Don't just list your strengths, back them up with facts. An attribute is far more powerful if it is rooted in a relevant example. Sample free interview answers include: "I'm an adaptable person. I work for three different managers, they have very different management styles and expectations of me. I am able to adjust my approach to meet each of their needs" Avoid over-used, vague terms such as "people's person". Be specific and pertinent. "I am good with customers. I enjoy the challenge of turning a dissatisfied customer into a satisfied one. Just last week I had an experience when ......." and quote a specific example of how you successfully managed an unhappy client. Focus on three or four strengths. Good examples include organizational and planning skills, perseverance, persuasive ability, communication skills, leadership ability, stress tolerance, ability to learn and apply new information and skills, flexibility, independence, problem-solving, creativity, technical and professional knowledge, reliability, selfmotivation and initiative. Found out what your strengths are. Follow the practical steps at What are Your Strengths? to identify your own strengths. List of Strengths and Weaknesses Free Interview Answers to Plan for this Tough Job Interview Question:

"What are your weaknesses?"

With this typical interview question the interviewer is assessing your self awareness and insight rather than your weaknesses.

"Why should we hire you?"

Review the job description and note down the job requirements.

Refer to your skills and experience relevant to the job requirements and the company's needs. What benefits are you bringing to this job? Mention your previous successes and your goals for the future. Be straightforward and confident about your abilities. " I have the right combination of skills and experience for this job. I also bring the additional quality of strong analytical and problem solving ability as shown by my introduction of a more efficient work flow system at ABC Company. My commitment to excellent work standards will add value to the team. I am a fast learner, I had to learn a totally new operating system in my last job and I was up and running within a couple of weeks. One of the reasons I want to work for this company is your reputation for staff development, learning and growth are important values to me. I sincerely believe I am the right person for this job and for this company"

When answering interview questions like this, don't try to say that you are the best qualified candidate, you are not familiar with the other candidates' skills and experience. Rather highlight the reasons why you are the right candidate for this job. "My abilities in sales really seem to fit this job. My success at ABC in achieving an annual growth rate of 25% support this. I have worked with a similar product line and have an in-depth understanding of the technical aspects. My experience as a member of a large team will contribute to your department and I am enthusiastic about the new challenges involved in this position"

Be enthusiastic about why you want this job. "I really would like this job selling gift items and I strongly believe I will be good at it. I enjoy talking to customers and helping them find what they are looking for. I am meticulous about handling cash. I look forward to having regular hours and I am very reliable. In fact, my reference emphasizes that as one of my strong points" View Interview Questions and Answers that help you to answer the question "Tell me about yourself?"

For a good guide to finding out What are your Strengths. This will help you answer the frequently asked interview question "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" List of Strengths and Weaknesses What about answering interview questions such as

"Why do you want to work for this company?"

Use your background research to prepare for this question, this way you will differentiate yourself from the other candidates. Find out how to conduct successful research on the company at Job Interview Information. "I understand this company is expanding, your website indicates that you are about to launch a number of new products. I would like to be a part of this exciting growth" "I have always wanted an opportunity to work with a company that provides such an important service to the community" "You are a small company with great opportunity for staff development" "Your company has a reputation for being innovative and open to new ideas" Find something specific about the company to hook into. Look at the company values, mission, vision and successes. How do you complement and contribute to these? "I know that your goal is to become the biggest provider of office supplies in the area. My knowledge and experience of the customer base can make a big contribution to this. I would really enjoy the challenge of growing this business" Use the Example Answers for Interviews to find more sample answers to questions that explore why you want to work for the company. Use the answer guidelines at Top Interview Questions to answer the question "What motivates you in your job?" Focused research and planning before answering interview questions puts you on the path to success to your job interview! Be well prepared for other interview questions you'll most likely be asked. Use the complete list of Sample Job Interview Questions to help you get the job you want. Standard interview questions and answer guidelines about handling conflict, your ideal job and how you define success in your job. Be prepared for answering interview questions that explore your job-related competencies or behaviors. Find a complete list of behavioral questions with sample

answers at Behavioral Interview Answers. Make sure you know how to handle these type of interview questions. Return to Typical Interview Questions Be the best prepared candidate and get the job you want.

"What do you see yourself doing in five years?"

It is not easy to answer this interview question in terms of specific job or company expectations.

Focus on realistic career opportunities you could expect in your industry and what you hope to have gained from these opportunities.

One cannot accurately predict what the job or the company will look like in 5 years time. You can answer in general terms about the type of situation you would like to be in and the way you want to have grown and developed. Avoid giving specific time frames or job titles.

"It is an uncertain world and one can't predict what is going to happen. However, my hope is that I will have contributed to the success of the company and grown both personally and professionally within my position"

Your interview answer should relate to the job you are being interviewed for in some way. The interviewer does not want to hear that you hope to have published your first novel or be running your own business. This interview question is designed to assess a number of things. How long are you likely to stay with the company?

What is your motivation in applying for this position?

Do you look ahead and set goals for yourself?

Combine your personal growth strategies and goals with commitment to the job and the employer. For example: "I want to have developed new skills and abilities and to have made the most of my opportunities. This position will give me the opportunity to learn more about managing a work team, this is a goal of mine. I would like to be recognized as an individual who has really added value to the company" When faced with this job interview question and answer, avoid making over-ambitious predictions about your future potential. This indicates a lack of insight and maturity. Broadly discuss your work values and goals, not focusing on a specific career plan. "I want to have learned and grown within my work, to have increased my responsibilities and skills. I enjoy a challenge and would like to know that I am constantly meeting new challenges. My goal is to be the best at whatever level I am working at within the company" Demonstrate that you understand that reward (salary, promotion, responsibility) will be based on the quality and value of your contribution. "I want to make the most of my abilities and potential. By always doing my best I can ensure that there will be opportunities to increase my value and to grow in ways that benefit both the company and me" Align your success with the company's success. "I want to continue to gain experience and be a top -performing employee in a big company such as this one. I want to contribute as much as possible to the company's expansion and success" The interviewer will respond positively if you present yourself, in this job interview question and answer, as a mature, insightful and self-motivated candidate who wants to make an important and constructive contribution to the company. Preparing for this interview question will help you to answer the question "Why do you want to work for this company?" You can refer to your future goals and demonstrate how the company is able to help you in achieving these. Find sample answers to this frequently asked interview question at Answering Interview Questions Successfully. The article The Future Job Market and Tomorrow's Jobs provides valuable insights that can help you with this interview question.

"Why do you want to leave your job?"

Be straightforward but avoid negative comments about past employers in the job interview. Don't bad-mouth the company, your manager or colleagues, it puts you in a bad light. Keep it positive and make the reason for a leaving a constructive one such as a new challenge, exciting opportunity, increased responsibility or learning possibility. Use this job interview question as an opportunity to focus on the future. "I have reached the ceiling in my particular job, and I am ready for more responsibility" "After a number of years in my last position I am now looking for a new experience where I can contribute and grow in a bigger environment" Avoid stating your salary as a prime motivator for change. However location is a perfectly acceptable reason for moving. "I am relocating to this area for family reasons and left my job to make this move" "I was spending hours each day commuting. I would prefer to be closer to home" When asked common job interview questions like this, relate how you worked hard in your last position and now you want to use your skills and experience to benefit this company. "I am interested in an opportunity to use the skills and abilities I have developed over the last couple of years in a new and challenging position" If there is an obvious issue with the company you were working for, such as layoffs, acknowledge and discuss this. "There is a great deal of uncertainty about the security of our jobs. I am looking for a stable company where there is the long term opportunity to grow and advance" Sometimes, it is just the wonderful opportunity offered by the new position that made you consider a move. "In all honesty I wasn't really looking to move jobs, but this looks like such a great opportunity to use all my skills and experience and I have always admired this company" Situations to be considered when asked common job interview questions along these lines include the following. You may have taken time out to raise a family. Use this as an opportunity to reassure the interviewer that you are now ready to return to the workplace and detail the child care

arrangements you have put in place. Point out to the Interviewer the efforts you have made to keep up to date in your particular field. Taking time off to study is a positive reason. Highlight how this has taken your skills and abilities to a new level, and how it demonstrates your desire for self-improvement and growth. A travel break can also be seen in a positive light. Emphasize how it has added to your life experience, enabled you to deal with a number of new challenges and increased your self- confidence. The reasons for deciding to spend time traveling should show you as an individual who is keen to learn and grow. "I believed that I had reached the ceiling in my previous job. I needed to make a career move and decided that I would take the opportunity to spend some time fulfilling my dream and travel before looking for a new position. I have discovered so much about myself and developed a number of skills dealing with all the challenges I faced. I am really excited about returning to the workplace and using all I have learned to contribute in a positive and constructive way" Make sure the reason you provide for leaving is congruent with the reason you have provided on your resume and the reason that will be given by your previous employer when a reference is done.

"What has been your greatest achievement to date?"

Choose an achievement that is related to the position and is fairly recent. Review the job description, if you have it, or the job posting or ad. What skills are listed as necessary for the job?. This will guide you to the most relevant answer for this employment interview question.

Does the position need superior sales ability, someone with keen attention to detail, strong management skills or excellent problem-solving ability? Reflect upon achievements that demonstrated this skill. Describe your accomplishment and highlight the job-related skills you used. Point out how the results benefited the company. If a requirement is problem-solving skills: "Recently I was asked to implement a new system to reduce our debtors days. I analyzed the problems with the current system, got input from all the stakeholders, and developed a faster way of getting the accounts out and monitoring follow up.

Our debtors days reduced significantly and we are currently on target for collections" If a requirement is attention to detail: "I am responsible for taking the customer orders by phone. I listen carefully, ask for clarification and always confirm the order to make sure I have everything correct. In this past year I am the only person in my department who has not made an error on the orders. Errors are often costly and frustrate customers. It was really satisfying receiving that recognition and I was given a bonus by my supervisor" When asking employer interview questions about past successes, interviewers particularly want to know about achievements that increased revenues, decreased expenses, solved problems, were innovative or improved a company's reputation. "My department manager asked me to investigate a bottleneck in the production line. I did some research and suggested a redesign of the department layout so that the production units were in a more efficient sequence. It worked so well, increasing production by up to 20 percent, that my layout design has been adopted by all our branches" If you have little or no work experience, refer to an accomplishment at school or in an outside activity. Just remember to relate the skills you used to the job in question. "I was part of the rowing team that recently won the championships. It was a particularly satisfying win as we had trained very hard, requiring a lot of discipline and perseverance, to come up from the bottom of the league. We also really had to work together as a team and keep each other motivated" It is often difficult to single out one achievement when answering this question. "I believe I have had a number of successes to date. It is difficult to say which I think has been my greatest accomplishment as they were all important. I am going to focus on my recent achievements as being the most pertinent..." and go on to describe your relevant, recent accomplishments. Review your company background research to also highlight how your accomplishments fit in with the company mission, vision, goals and values. What do you like most about your current or last job? The interviewer wants to evaluate your compatibility with the position you are interviewing for. Make your answer relevant to the job requirements. General reasons such as new challenges, interacting with people, growth and learning opportunities, using

your initiative, working as part of a team and meeting set objectives and goals are usually applicable to most job opportunities. Highlight the reason and make it more specific by quoting an example. "I enjoyed having to use my initiative. I have implemented and improved a number of the systems including the order processing system." What do you like least about your current or last job? With typical interview questions like this be careful that the dislikes you talk about do not refer to specific characteristics of the job opportunity you are interviewing for. Stay away from reasons such as overtime and salary. Avoid criticism of your boss, management or co-workers. Be general and refer to the lack of or absence of what you seek in a job or work environment. For example, "There was very little opportunity for me to use my initiative. I regard this as one of my strengths and found it frustrating that I was unable to get past the bureaucracy of such a big company to implement any improvements. That is why I am enthusiastic about working for a smaller company like this which I know encourages employees to use their initiative." Or "There was a lack of growth opportunities in such as small company. One of the reasons I am so interested in your company is that it is a much larger organization with formal career planning structures in place." This way you emphasize why you are a suitable candidate for this job and company as well as turning it into a compliment to the company you are interviewing with. How to answer the question "What do you like and dislike about the sales job?" How would you describe your previous manager/boss/supervisor When answering typical interview questions about previous managers avoid saying anything that can be interpreted as negative. It sends up a red flag about your attitude to authority and supervision. Even if there is something truly negative about your boss rather try to find something positive to focus on. The answer you give should be factbased and not just your opinion. For example: "My manager was very experienced, he had managed a number of big call centers over the past 12 years. He liked his staff to be able to work independently and I had to learn quickly to become independent about analyzing problems and finding solutions."

In this answer you are stating a positive fact about your boss, his amount of experience. You are also turning a possible negative about your boss, his lack of support, into a positive about you. You have not criticized your boss and you have taken the opportunity to highlight your ability to be proactive and deal with a situation. Use these sample answers to help prepare your own good interview answers to these typical interview questions. You will stand out as the professional and prepared job candidate. Prepare for other common interview questions using our recommended sample answers and interview answer guidelines. How would your co-workers describe you? The interviewer wants to find out if you have a good understanding of how you are perceived and how your behavior impacts on others. Your answer should demonstrate an objective view of your strengths and areas for improvement in terms of teamwork and your interpersonal skills. In your job interview answer describe the good points and perceptions but also discuss one or two areas that you are aware need attention. Emphasize what you have done to improve on these areas. This makes your answer both real and insightful. When you refer to the positive characteristics, support your answer with a quote or paraphrase from one or two of your colleagues. For example, "I know they considered me to be hard working. In fact, the other team members often thanked me for the extra hours I put in." Then move on to the areas for improvement. "I know that I was initially considered intolerant if I felt they were not putting in the same amount of effort as I was. I realized it was better to encourage them to meet our deadlines by offering help where needed. This has worked much better for all of us." Use work-relevant words like good communicator, reliable, decisive, resilient, energetic, team member when answering top interview questions like this. Expect to be asked interview questions that explore your attitude towards your previous manager or boss. Find help with this at Typical Interview Questions.

What motivates you in your job? This is a personal trait, there is no right or wrong answer. However, you need to prepare for this job interview question and note down some specific examples. It is often difficult to verbalize your motivation properly in the stressful context of a job interview. Other interview questions will determine whether you have the skills for the job - can you do the job. With this question the interviewer is exploring whether you will be a good motivational fit with the job opportunity - will you want to do this job? What does motivate you will depend on your background and work experiences, but try to make your motivation relevant to what this job can provide. For example if the job is a fairly isolated one do not give "working with other people" as a motivation! You can use this preparation as an opportunity to think about whether this position is really suitable for you in terms of motivational fit. Here are some sample answers to top interview questions about your motivation to help you prepare your own answers: "I am motivated by the challenge of difficult tasks and projects.My previous manager gave me more and more responsibility as I proved myself, I found this very motivating." "It is important for me to meet the customers needs. I give them the best service and when I exceed their expectations or get positive feedback it motivates me."

"I like to know that I am growing as an employee. Learning and using new skills is a big motivator for me." There are many different motivators. Challenge, achievement, recognition, learning opportunities, increased responsibility, coaching or mentoring others, team involvement and interaction, task complexity and variety are all possible answers to top interview questions about motivation. How do you define success in your job?

The best way to handle this job interview question is to provide an accepted definition of success and then support this with good examples of your success. One of the wellaccepted definitions of success is goal attainment. Achieving a challenging goal or set of goals would be considered success by most people. It is important to relate your job interview answer in some way to the position you are interviewing for. Measurable and specific examples of success are more convincing. You can use this sample answer to help prepare your own interview answer for this question. "Success means the achievement of a challenging and measurable goal that I have set for myself or that has been delegated to me. In my previous position I had specific sales targets to meet every quarter. I set myself the goal of been up on my monthly targets by 5 percent. I managed to exceed my quarterly targets by 8 percent on average. That, for me, was success!" Get help with employer interview questions that ask "What has been your greatest achievement to date?"

Prepare to answer interview questions that ask: Describe your ideal job The key to how to answer interview questions about your dream or ideal job is that your response should be in line with the characteristics of the job and company you are interviewing with. Answering this question requires you to consider your strengths and weaknesses, what you have liked and disliked about your current and previous jobs, and what your career ambitions are. A more general answer will help ensure a fit with the vacant position. For example: "My ideal job is one where my knowledge and skills are put to good use. A job where I will learn and grow as a person and an employee and where I am given challenges that test my potential." You can also take this approach.

"I believe a job is what you make of it. Each position and company has unique characteristics that give meaning and value to that job. If you work hard and make the most of the opportunities given, you will find job satisfaction. I am enthusiastic about a position that allows me to learn and grow and to make a positive and meaningful contribution." Find good answers to Typical Interview Questions about what you like and dislike most in your job. How would you enrich your current job? Demonstrate how you strive to add value to your job. Describe your search for new opportunities to challenge yourself and to utilize your skills and abilities. For example: "The sales team had to meet a big launch deadline and I volunteered to help out with preparing the presentations. I worked overtime to successfully complete the project. They were very pleased with my work and I received a commendation from the Sales Director." These job interview questions are likely to be asked in some form or other. Employers are looking for a person who can rise above conflict and problems and find win-win solutions. Use these guidelines to prepare and practice answers to these standard interview questions. How do you handle conflict? The interviewer wants to know how you react to conflict and how you manage it. Try to focus your job interview answer on the behavioral process that you use to resolve the conflict. Don't direct your answer at how difficult you boss or co-workers are and how hard it is to work with them. This portrays you as someone who does not get on easily with other people and employers want someone who gets on well with others. Use your interview answer to highlight your interpersonal skills, your maturity and your ability to stay calm in the face of difficulty. For example: "Everyone has to deal with conflict at some point. I have found that when there is conflict it helps to try and put yourself in the other person's shoes and understand their perspective. It is important to ask questions and listen to their point of view. If you know what their interpretation of the situation is, then it is easier to work out a solution. For example.... ( give a specific example of a conflict situation and how you dealt with it)." Emphasize the techniques you use to diffuse conflict such as understanding the other person's position, asking questions to find out the cause of the conflict, not conveying

blame and not becoming too emotional. Demonstrate your ability to work collaboratively to reach an acceptable resolution. Here is another of those standard interview questions that is exploring a number of aspects at once. What has been the most difficult situation you have had to face? This job interview question is trying to determine two things - what your definition of difficult is and how you approach challenges and problems.

Avoid discussing difficult situations that were directly caused by you. Make sure it is a situation that most people would consider difficult or tough. Think of specific problems that tested your skills and abilities and had positive outcomes. Highlight the way you analyzed the situation, the skills you used to professionally deal with it and what your particular contribution to resolving it was. Always try to end on a positive note Examples of difficult situations include having to discipline an employee, unreasonable goals and deadlines, unreasonable customers and clients, adapting to change and facing unethical work practices.

Job skills that should be highlighted include common sense, perseverance, diplomacy, maturity, stress management and assessment skills. For example: "I have faced a number of difficult situations, but the one that comes to mind now is ...... ( describe the situation). I was able to deal with it by assessing the situation, determining the possible different approaches and deciding on the most effective one. I had to remain unemotional and objective and focused on a solution." Use these tips to help you respond appropriately to these difficult questions.

Go through your resume and note any red flag areas that could translate into a difficult job interview question.

How you respond to these tough questions is as important as what you say.

Stay calm and unflustered and answer in a positive and professional manner.

Be aware of your tone of voice, making sure it is not defensive or aggressive.

Use body language that conveys the message that you are comfortable and confident.

Be concise and avoid rambling on as this gives the impression of nervousness.

Be brief but make sure you have addressed any concerns the interviewer has. It is important that the interviewer feels comfortable that the question has been dealt with properly so that the interview can move on.

Explaining Layoffs Often people have been laid off for reasons that are beyond their control, there is usually an acceptable explanation. Company layoff policies are often perceived as unfair but this is not the place to discuss that. Many people have been personally affected by a layoff, or know of someone who has. Employers understand that layoffs are a fact of life and do not automatically indicate a problem with the candidate.

In answering job interview questions about being laid off, the key is your attitude to the layoff rather than the layoff itself. Your attitude will be evident in how you communicate it to the interviewer. Prepare a statement that explains it in a concise and factual way that you feel comfortable with. Give the reason such as downsizing, restructuring, a merger. Ensure that you highlight what you managed to accomplish during your time at the company. For example:

"The broad-based restructuring at the company resulted in my position being eliminated. However during my time there I was successful in ......."

Steer clear of criticizing your ex-employer, this can be perceived as having a negative attitude. You can move on to how the layoff has opened up new possibilities for you. "I am able to bring the following skills to this position ....... I'm excited about having the opportunity to meet new challenges." Be aware of the tone you use when you answer job interview questions about being laid off. Avoid an apologetic type of response or a defensive tone. Be sure your body language communicates confidence and transparency- arms uncrossed, sitting upright but not rigid, looking directly at the interviewer and making relaxed eye contact. Be prepared to explain both why you were laid off and what you did after that. Account for the time you may have spent being unemployed since the lay off. Focus on what constructive steps you took during this period. Any classes you have taken, the work-related information you have accessed and read etc. Make sure you are not inappropriately focusing on your layoff. If the interviewer asks "Why do you want this position?", your answer should focus on the job tasks, job responsibilities and the company, not that you need a job because you have been laid off.

How to Answer Interview Questions

If you were clearly dismissed from your job and not laid off because of a retrenchment-type process then it is best to be open and honest in What if you were fired from a previous position? It giving the reasons for your is very difficult to know how to answer interview employment dismissal. questions around the topic of dismissal. It is also likely that this will be explored in an employment background check or a verbal reference check, so the situation Recommended interview techniques for handling should not be misrepresented in the job interview. this tough interview question emphasize the importance of demonstrating that you are able to look at the dismissal objectively. Try to present the dismissal in neutral terms. For example, if the problem was a conflict with your manager, discuss it using the pronoun "we" to show that you accept joint accountability for the problem as in the example below. "We were unable to work effectively together."

Show how you have taken time to critically evaluate what happened. You want the interviewer to view you as a candidate who has learned and grown from your mistakes. For example: "I have thought about this a great deal and I can understand now what went wrong. I did not have a clear understanding of the task expectations. I should have asked for further clarification. I have learned from this and I am positive about being able to make a valuable contribution to this organization."

It is advisable to avoid playing the blame game. Bad-mouthing your previous employer or manager portrays you as a bitter ex-employee who is not able to move forward. The ability to take accountability and to adapt demonstrates a maturity and professionalism that the interviewer is looking for in the successful job candidate. When considering how to answer interview questions about being fired prepare a response that you feel comfortable with. Practice saying it calmly and confidently and rewrite it if necessary.

Be aware of your tone and body language. Avoid crossed arms, hunching down in your chair, looking down and not making eye contact. These all give a defensive, closed message to the interviewer. Spend the minimum amount of time when you answer interview questions on this topic, but make sure that you have clarified the issue for the interviewer. Once you have completed your explanation, end with: "I trust that I have addressed your concerns." Acknowledging that the interviewer has a genuine concern but suggesting that you have now dealt with this allows you to continue with a more positive line of questioning. Trying to defend yourself usually results in an an awkward and prolonged discussion on a negative issue that can compromise the whole job interview. Deal with it in an honest and neutral way and move on. Spend your time in the job interview discussing the contribution you can make to the position and company. Everyone can improve somehow. Some very successful people have been fired during the course of their careers. Knowing how to answer interview questions about this by

emphasizing what you have learned from the experience and believing in yourself as the right candidate for the job will help convince the interviewer to believe in you too. Answering employer interview questions about remuneration are more straightforward for candidates with a career salary history than for a candidate who has not previously had a permanent job. We can look at each situation separately and provide salary advice for each. For candidates who have previously earned a salary these are the guidelines when responding to the job interview question: "What salary are you looking for?" If this is asked early on in the interview process you could suggest that there is time to discuss it later in the interview process but that right now you are interested in learning more about the position and job responsibilities. Additionally, more information about the job tasks and responsibilities is necessary before being able to properly answer salary questions. If the interviewer presses you on the salary question you can ask if there has been an amount budgeted for this position or ask if there is a salary grade attached to the job and see if it fits your requirements. When there is no indication of salary and the interviewer continues to probe, you will have to respond with a number. If you don't, you may create the impression that it is unimportant what you get paid and any offer is acceptable. When responding to difficult interview questions about what salary you are looking for, rather than confining yourself to a specific figure, state a range: "The range for this sort of position is between $X and $Y." To determine the range consider what salary you want, your most recent salary and the market-related salary for the job. Don't undervalue yourself but continue to emphasize that the position is the most Taking a new job does important factor. Money should not be perceived as the most not automatically make important thing to you. you worth more money. Link any reference to an "I am currently earning $..., I would obviously like to better increase on your previous that figure but my main interest is the actual position." salary to increased job responsibilities and demands. Stick to the facts when You have the right to decline the request but this is likely to be stating your previous salary, it is within the perceived negatively in the job interview. rights of a prospective employer to request proof of your former salary.

For candidates with no real salary history these are the guidelines to use when giving job interview answers to the question "What do you feel this position should pay?" You could suggest a range to the employer but your suggested range needs to be based on good research to make sure it is current and industry-related. Do your homework before the interview and make some notes. Good Resources for Conducting Salary Research The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) collates and publishes comprehensive information on new graduate salaries based on regular surveys. You can go to the NACE website to view how to access this information. salaryexpert.com is another useful research site but be specific about the area you are searching for, the cost of living differs greatly between areas and is a critical factor in determining average salaries. This data helps you to confirm that your salary requirements and what you are being offered are in line with the industry averages in the particular geographical area. Back up your salary suggestion with details of how you got that figure, for example: "I have reached this figure through some extensive research, I have used the NACE stats and information from recent salary surveys in this area." Backing up your job interview answers with concrete data makes them both reliable and valid. Preparing yourself for the salary question by doing your research and thinking about what your financial requirements are enables you to deal professionally with this difficult question. Good Answers to Job Interview Questions Prepare for Standard Interview Questions that explore your ability to handle conflict and difficult situations. Be prepared for those unexpected Strange Interview Questions that can throw you in your job interview. Behavioral interview questions are frequently asked in job interviews. These can be difficult interview questions to answer if you are not properly prepared. Go the Behavioral Interview Question and Answer Guide for help with tricky interview questions. Other difficult interview questions you may face in your job interview include explaining lay offs, being fired and gaps in employment. Click on the table for help in preparing your interview answers to these questions.

Top 10 Interview Questions

The top 10 interview questions asked in job interviews. Prepare thoroughly using the interview answer guidelines and impress as the best candidate for the job.

We look at preparing for the most commonly asked interview questions in 5 Common Interview Questions . These include Tell me about yourself, Why should we hire you, What are your strengths and weaknesses, Where do you see yourself in 5 years time and Why do you want to work for this company? These are the top 10 job interview questions that interviewers use in addition to the 5 common job interview questions. Research shows that a job candidate will be expected to answer a high percentage of these 10 interview questions during the job interview. What do you like most and least about your current job? The interviewer is assessing your match with the job opportunity. When referring to what you like about your current job highlight an aspect that relates directly to the job you are interviewing for. When discussing what you dislike about your current job avoid referring to any duties or tasks that are part of the job you are interviewing for. Avoid personal attacks on your colleagues, managers and the organization. Find out more about answering this interview question at What do you like/dislike about your current job? What motivates you in your job? Consider carefully what does motivate you. It is a personal characteristic and will depend on your experience and competencies. Understand the job you are interviewing for and emphasize the motivational fit between you and the job. How do the job itself and the organizational environment provide the motivation and satisfaction you want? Find out more about answering top 10 interview questions about motivation at What motivates you in your job? . How do you deal with conflict? Every job, team and organization contains an element of conflict. The interviewer is exploring your approach to conflict with top ten interview questions like this. What resources do you use to manage conflict at work? How do you prevent conflict from escalating or happening again?

Find out more about answering this interview question at How do you handle conflict? . How do you define success in your job? Success means different things to different people. This question explores your interpretation of success and if it is compatible with what the organization views as success. What do you consider to be a challenge? What are your career goals? Find out more about answering this interview question at How do you define success? . How would your manager and /or co-workers describe you? This interview question is all about your self awareness. Do you know how you come cross and how you are perceived in the workplace? Do you understand your strengths and weaknesses? Do you ask for and receive feedback? Make sure your answer focuses on work related characteristics. The interviewer is not really interested in what a great dancer you are! Find out more about answering this interview question at How would your colleagues describe you? What do you consider to be the key skills for this job? A number of these top 10 job interview questions demand that you have a good understanding of the job opportunity. Display your knowledge of the position by listing the skills required and highlighting those that are key to the expected job performance and outcomes. If you have insufficient information about the job use these sample job descriptions to help clarify the core job requirements. Find out more about answering this interview question at What skills are critical to this position? What salary are you looking for? This is a tricky question. It is easier to answer if you know what salary the job offers and you have a salary history to refer to. There are a number of ways to handle this difficult question. It is essential to have done some research on typical salary ranges for this type of job. This will provide you with the data you need to support your interview answer. Find out more about answering this interview question at What salary are you seeking? What is your reason for leaving your current job? Avoid negative and critical answers, focus on the positive aspects of what you are moving towards. Never badmouth former employers, this is viewed by interviewers as destructive and unhelpful behavior.

Find out more about answering top 10 interview questions about reasons for leaving at What is your reason for leaving your present job? Describe your ideal job. Your interview answer should correlate with what motivates you and the key skills required for the job you are interviewing for. Try not to be too specific. Rather focus on general positive attributes that any number of jobs can offer an individual such as the opportunity to learn and grow, the opportunity to make the best use of your skills and to make a meaningful contribution to the organization. Find out more about answering this interview question at Describe your ideal job What has been your greatest achievement to date Top 10 interview questions are likely to include those that explore what you have accomplished to date. Focus on an achievement that is relevant to the job you are interviewing for. It should be something that you had to work hard for and that was a real challenge to accomplish. What goals do you set yourself? What do you consider important? How do you overcome obstacles?

PROJECT MANAGER

General Purpose To be responsible for the overall direction, coordination, implementation, execution, control and completion of specific projects ensuring consistency with company strategy, commitments and goals. Main Job Tasks and Responsibilities

lead the planning and implementation of project facilitate the definition of project scope, goals and deliverables define project tasks and resource requirements develop full scale project plans assemble and coordinate project staff manage project budget manage project resource allocation plan and schedule project timelines track project deliverables using appropriate tools

provide direction and support to project team quality assurance constantly monitor and report on progress of the project to all stakeholders present reports defining project progress, problems and solutions implement and manage project changes and interventions to achieve project outputs project evaluations and assessment of results

Education and Experience

qualification in project management or equivalent knowledge of both theoretical and practical aspects of project management knowledge of project management techniques and tools direct work experience in project management capacity proven experience in people management proven experience in strategic planning proven experience in risk management proven experience in change management proficient in project management software

Key competencies

critical thinking and problem solving skills planning and organizing decision-making communication skills influencing and leading delegation team work negotiation conflict management adaptability stress tolerance

Your Name Your Address Your Contact details (phone and email) Date Mr Mark Stevens Director of Human Resources ABC Company 15 South Parkway Long Island, NY 11551

Dear Mr Stevens Your recent advertisement for the Project Manager position immediately captured my interest. I am confident that my seven years solid experience in project management provides me with the capabilities to successfully fulfill this position. Accordingly I have enclosed my resume for your consideration. Some key points that are relevant to this opportunity include: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, certification in risk management successful management of multiple projects in the XYZ industry/industries from defining requirements through implementation proven track record of delivering projects on time and within budget sound ability to conduct and interpret qualitative and quantitative analyses comprehensive understanding of RCA, FMEA, statistics and quality improvement techniques. successful management and motivation of cross functional teams ranging from 5 to 35 excellent computer skills including MS Business Suite and current project management applications a solid reputation as a hard working, innovative and results-driven professional I am convinced that my project management experience and abilities are in perfect line with your current criteria. I would appreciate an opportunity to further discuss your needs and my qualifications. Please contact me, via phone or e-mail, to set up a mutually convenient time and date for us to meet. Thank you for your time and consideration and I look forward to speaking with you soon. Sincerely Jack Jobseeker Enclosure For maximum impact use your cover letter to focus attention on what qualifies you as the right project manager for the job. Convince the reader that you meet the job requirements and can contribute significantly to the company.

Winning Communication Tips for Job Interviews

Communication tips for job interviews focus on establishing a good rapport with your interviewer. Effective communication skills are essential to interview success.

Often communication in the job interview will start off with some small talk, asking questions about getting to the interview, the weather etc. Respond appropriately in a conversational tone but avoid over-communicating. Stay clear of problems or negatives such as describing how bad the traffic was. Have a couple of polite conversational-type remarks ready for this small talk phase, for example comment positively on the building or surroundings. You can prepare these while you wait for the interviewer. Address the interviewer by name but know how to pronounce it correctly. Ask the receptionist beforehand if you are unsure of how to pronounce it. It is advisable to address the interviewer formally until they suggest otherwise. Avoid abbreviating the interviewer's name unless asked to. For example if his name is Robert don't start calling him Bob!

Important tips for job interviews include matching your communication style to that of the interviewer. If the interviewer is very business-like, then you should respond in a similar way. Avoid offering up jokes and funny stories. If the interviewer is more informal and chatty, adjust your communication style accordingly by responding in a more informal tone while still showing respect. The interviewer should be the one who sets the tone of the interview, not the candidate.

A good interviewer will attempt to put the candidate at ease, don't interpret this as trying to be your friend! Always treat the job interview as a professional meeting. A common mistake candidates make is talking too much. Listen to the question being asked, ensure you are clear as to what is requested and respond with the information. It is easy to move off the subject and chatter about irrelevant topics. Effective communication

means keeping your answers concise and to-the-point and making sure you are answering what is asked. It is advisable to ask for clarification if you are unsure what the interviewer means or wants. Don't guess and make assumptions, this usually results in an inappropriate response. Say something like, "So you would like me to tell you about ....". The interviewer can then correct you if you have misunderstood. There is no need to fill up silences with unnecessary rambling. Silences will naturally occur as the interviewer gathers their thoughts or formulates the next question, it is important to be comfortable with silences. One of the most important communication tips for job interviews is to avoid interrupting the interviewer. Make sure they have finished speaking before you respond. You can do this by allowing a pause before you start speaking. Taking a little time to think about a question rather than rushing to answer also helps you to organize your thoughts and prevents verbal fillers such as "umm" and "you know". These always come across as unprofessional. By taking a moment to think before you answer you appear calm, confident and polite. Try not to use jargon in your answers or questions. The interviewer may be unfamiliar with the jargon, often jargon is company-specific. Using jargon does not make you sound knowledgeable in the interview, often it just sounds as though the candidate is trying to impress with no real substance to the content of what is being said. Speaking simply and coherently is the best way to establish rapport.

Non-verbal communication Using effective non-verbal communication techniques, including accounts for over 90% appropriate interview body language, in your job interview is of the message you are essential to your success. sending in your job interview! Your verbal content As you can see your non-verbal signals, both your body language only provides 7% of (55% of the message) and the way you speak such as voice tone the message the interviewer is (38%) are as important as the actual words you use in your job receiving from you. interview answers!

Interview Body Language that Sends the Right Message

Posture
When the interviewer offers you a seat at the start of the job interview, sit upright but not too stiffly in your chair. This indicates that you are comfortable and feeling confident. Hunching down in your chair gives the impression of nervousness and low self-esteem. A sloppy posture indicates a careless attitude and a lack of energy. Sitting on the edge of your chair can come across as being nervous and tense. Relax and lean slightly forward, about 10 degrees, towards your interviewer. This gives the message that you are both interested and involved. Leaning back makes you appear too relaxed and casual. Leaning to the side can be perceived as not feeling comfortable with the interviewer. How you position your head also sends a message. Tilting your head very slightly to one side comes across as friendly and open. Keeping it straight comes across as self-assured and authoritative. It is also important to pay attention to the posture of your interviewer. Sometimes you can establish rapport by adopting the same posture as the other person. This is called mirroring. If they have adopted a more formal posture do the same until you see that the interviewer has relaxed and become less formal.

What to do with your Hands

If you are unsure of what to do with your hands, rest them, loosely clasped in your lap or on the table. Control your hands by being aware of what you are doing with them. Having your hands above the neck, fiddling with your face or your hair, is unprofessional and conveys nervousness and anxiety. Keep your hands away from your face. Interview body language experts will tell you that touching the nose or lips can indicate that the candidate is lying. Holding a hand behind your head is often a sign that you are annoyed or uncertain. Folding your arms across your chest suggests a closed and defensive attitude. Waving your hands and arms around can be perceived as uncertainty and a lack of professionalism. Common wisdom is that the less you move your arms and hands about the more confident and in control you are. Practice a comfortable way to loosely place your arms and hands while you are sitting, both at a table and in a chair on its own. Be aware of the interview body language message your legs are giving. A lot of leg movement is both distracting and indicates nervousness. Resting one leg or ankle on top of your other knee makes you look too casual and comes across as arrogant. Crossing your legs high up conveys a defensive attitude in the one-on-one context of a job interview. Crossing them at the ankles or placing both feet flat on the floor conveys a confident and professional look during the job interview.

Eye Contact
If the interviewer is talking and you want to show that you are actively listening, you need to instigate direct eye contact and maintain it. Avoid appearing as if you are staring aggressively by blinking at regular intervals and moving your head every now and then, such as giving a small nod. Interview body language experts suggest that when you are doing the talking you need to hold eye contact for periods of about 10 seconds before looking away briefly and then re-establishing eye contact. Overusing direct eye contact when you are speaking can come across as lecturing or challenging the interviewer. Typically the listener maintains direct eye contact for longer than the speaker who breaks it off at intervals. Looking constantly downwards makes you appear insincere or submissive. It is acceptable to look down if you are making notes or referring to information in front of you. However if you are speaking, or the interviewer is asking you something, raise your head and make regular eye contact to show that you are actively involved. With panel interviews it is best to look at and direct your answer to the person asking the question, with a glance periodically at the other interviewers. Eye contact is essential interview body language to establish rapport with your interviewer. Not making eye contact makes the interviewer feel disconnected from you. Eye contact should be a positive aspect of interview body language, if it is not used properly however it can quickly become negative.

Voice Delivery
Speaking in a clear and controlled voice conveys confidence.

Avoid speaking in a monotone by varying your tone and pitch, however don't overdo it and come across as overly excited or emotional. Breathe and pause before answering a question, this gives you time to react in a considered way and it ensures that the interviewer has finished the question. You should interact with the interviewer as an equal, not a subordinate. Ensure that your voice tone is not apologetic or defensive. Generally it is advisable not to show too much or too strong emotion during your job interview. Smile and nod at appropriate times but don't overdo it. Avoid erupting into laughter on your own, laughing along with the interviewer is far more acceptable.

The Interviewer's Message

Watch for these interview body language signals from your interviewer to read the message they are sending you.

If the interviewer crosses arms or leans away it could mean that they are feeling uncomfortable.Perhaps you are leaning in too close and invading their space in some way. Create more space between yourselves. If there is not a table between you that creates a safe degree of personal space, keep a distance of about two to three feet, this is a comfortable amount of personal space for most people.

Body language cues that can indicate boredom include resting head on hand, fiddling with hands and losing eye contact. If this happens wrap up what you are saying and move on by asking the interviewer a question such as, "Is there anything else you would like to know about that topic?"

Drumming fingers and rubbing the face can indicate irritation. Clarify that you are answering the question with the information they want and not frustrating them with an off-the-point response. Preparing for your job interview includes not only knowing what to say but how to say it. The best way to be aware of your interview body language and the way you are coming across is to practice in front of a mirror. This way you can be confident that you are sending the right message in your job interview. The message that you are a professional, confident and enthusiastic candidate for the position! What message do your interview clothes send? Know how to dress for an interview and increase your chances of success.

How to Dress for an Interview

Advice on how to successfully dress for an interview is wide and varied.

The standard recommendations for job interview clothes are based on common sense - be tidy, smart and relatively conservative and understated. You can take a more personal approach by dressing

according to the company culture, the position and what makes you feel comfortable while maintaining a professional look. Your interview dress should send the message that you have the insight to recognize what the job and company require and that you are able to fit in with this. When deciding how to dress for an interview it is always best to know what the company dress code is. Go to How to Find Out the Company Job Interview Dress Code to help you with this Some companies expect a more traditional type of work dress. Find out The Right Job Interview Attire for a Conservative Environment Know what to wear to a job interview in a more relaxed company environment at Interview Clothes for the Casual Environment There are some very definite Interview Dress Do's and Dont's It is important to remember that candidates do not get jobs because of what they wear to the interview, however a number of candidates damage their chances of success by dressing inappropriately. A personal sense of style is valuable but be aware of aligning your dress to the requirements of the situation. Know about Preparing for a Job Interview and use your background research and knowledge of the profession to make the right judgment call on how you should dress for an interview. View the Job Interview Dress Code for different professions. Showing the interviewer that you understand the style of the position and the company is the start of building rapport and trust in the job interview. You don't get a second chance to make a first impression! Wearing the right interview clothes demonstrates to the interviewer that you respect the company culture, that you have spent time doing your research and that you are committed to making the right impression. Attention to detail suggests that you have made the effort to create the best impression. Think about your nails, your accessories, your shoes. Nothing is less impressive than a pair of scuffed shoes teamed with a crisp and professional suit! When you decide what to wear to your interview make sure you are in tune with the company environment and the requirements of the position. Think about the information you have gained from doing your background research on the type of company it is, assess what current employees at the company are wearing. Consider the personality and behavior required in the position you are interviewing for - are you expected to be extrovert or reserved, detailed or innovative, creative or administrative.

If you are going through a recruiter ask them to tell you in specific detail about the dress code so you know what to expect.

How to Avoid Common Job Interview Mistakes

Common job interview mistakes can easily be avoided using some practical interview skills guidelines. Set yourself up for success by ensuring you come across as the most professional and best prepared candidate for the job opportunity!

Not Preparing Properly for the Interview Not doing your homework and preparing adequately for the interview beforehand shows you up as a disinterested and unprofessional candidate. The best way to impress your interviewer is to demonstrate your interest and commitment by referring to your company background research in both your interview answers and questions. For comprehensive information on conducting company research go to job interview info on background research techniques.

Arriving Late One of the worst job interview mistakes is to not be on time for the interview. The whole interview process is compromised as you will have to work very hard to overcome creating an initial bad impression. Collect all the necessary details beforehand to ensure that you arrive on time - directions, travel times etc. Make a practice run if possible to ensure you know where you are going and how long it takes.

Stumbling over Interview Answers

Being unable to clearly articulate responses to the questions you face is a candidate's worst nightmare. Avoid this job interview mistake by preparing and practicing your answers to typical interview questions beforehand. This will ensure that you are ready with the information you are asked for and you are ableto present it confidently to the interviewer. Go to common job interview questions and answers for practical help. Failing to Ask Questions Interviewers are unimpressed when they ask the candidate if they have any questions and the candidate does not! Having no questions indicates that you are not sufficiently interested and have not thought much about the position. You should arrive with a list of several prepared questions that you can use when necessary. You will want to find out certain details about the position as well as show the interviewer that you have done some serious thinking about the job and the company. Go to the right job interview question to ask to prepare a list of winning interview questions and avoid making one of the most damaging job interview mistakes. Talking Too Much Rambling on and telling the interviewer more than they want to know can quickly lose their interest. Make sure your answers are relevant and focused. The best way to do this is to prepare and practice your interview answers beforehand. Confirm you have understood what information the interviewer wants by asking a clarifying question, such as, "Should I focus on ...". Listen actively to what the interviewer is saying to make sure you get the right message. This takes concentration and focus. Often nervousness leads to candidates talking too much. Good interview preparation increases confidence and reduces nervousness. Go through the tips for interview success reducing interview stress to help control your nervousness during the job interview.

Not Displaying a Positive Attitude Complaining about former employers and colleagues creates a negative impression. Disclosing inappropriate details such as the problems you had with a former manager and seeming defensive when responding to difficult questions, such as reasons for leaving previous jobs, also conveys a negative attitude. Focus on positive topics and achievements. Be enthusiastic about what you have learned from previous challenges and how overcoming problems has developed you positively as a person.

View practical guidelines on how to formulate effective job interview answers to difficult questions. Allowing Distractions Avoid fiddling with anything while you are talking or listening to the interviewer. We interviewed a candidate who tried to balance his pencil on his fingers, it kept falling off and, unbelievable as it seems, at one point he was scrabbling on the floor for it! Think about what you are doing with your hands to keep them under control. Fiddling with your clothing, your hair, your notebook, tapping your pen, your foot etc are all distracting and irritating. Wild gesticulations are also disconcerting. Read through the tips on interview body language to avoid this common job interview mistake. By avoiding these common job interview mistakes you create the right impression during your interview and come across as a professional and confident job candidate.

Tips for Interview Success to Reduce Interview Stress

Job interviews can be very stressful. Practical tips for interview success include advice on how to manage stress and reduce your interview anxiety. Knowing how to control your stress and anxiety builds confidence and leads to success.

One of the best ways to reduce stress is to be properly prepared for your interview. Preparing for the Interview Make sure you have thought about and practiced your answers to Common Job Interview Questions . Make sure you are confident about handling any difficult issues such as gaps in employment and reasons for leaving your job. The answer guidelines at Job Interview Answers to Tough Questions will help you with this. Have a list of insightful questions to ask in your interview. There are a number of excellent sample questions at The Right Job Interview Question to ask the interviewer. Before the job interview think about the things that stress you and put some coping mechanisms in place. If you are anxious about finding the company make sure you have

the correct directions and have worked out your route beforehand. If you are concerned, make a practice run. Making lists of what needs to be done helps manage stress. Prepare a list of what you need to do to be ready for the job interview and check the items off as you complete them. Use the Interview Checklist to ensure you have covered everything before your job interview. This way you can go to bed the night before the job interview knowing you have prepared everything and get a good night's sleep. Stress and anxiety that occurs during the interview can also be managed. Use these stressmanagement techniques and tips for interview success to keep calm when it counts! Arrive at the Right Time You should plan to arrive about 10 minutes before your interview time. Arriving too early means you have too much time to sit and worry before the interview, having to rush and arriving late causes unnecessary stress. Use Visualization Before your job interview you can use visualization techniques to help you relax. This involves closing your eyes, breathing deeply and picturing yourself confidently and calmly greeting the interviewer, answering the interviewer's questions fluently and establishing a good rapport with the interviewer. Remind yourself that the interview is not an interrogation, the interviewer wants to see you succeed. Physically Relax On the way to the interview and while you wait practice smiling! Smiling releases endorphines which the body uses to reduce stress. Take a deep breath, slowly breathe out and smile!

To reduce stress during the interview breathe deeply and regularly. Keep your posture straight, with your legs crossed at the ankles or feet flat on the floor. This ensures you come across as relaxed and composed. Hunching in your chair or crossing your arms or legs makes you look nervous. Practice sitting in a position that you feel comfortable and confident in with your hands held loosely in a relaxed fashion. Be aware of signs of anxiety and stress during the interview such as jaw clenching or face rubbing and correct these.

Acting and looking confident by sending the right message with your body language, even if you are not feeling confident, helps you to feel in control. Your posture, what you do with your hands, looking directly at the interviewer and maintaining eye contact will affect your mindset and how you perform in the job interview. Voice Delivery One of the best tips for interview success and a good technique to manage stress is simply to pause before answering questions. This gives you a chance to breathe and organize your thoughts. Speak slowly and calmly. If you feel yourself starting to panic, pause and take a deep breath. Regain your focus and continue. Usually the interviewer will not notice a quick 10 second pause and this way you get your anxiety under control before it gets worse. View more great tips for interview success. Find out about how to communicate effectively in your job interview using the tips at Communication Tips for Job Interviews. To succeed in your job interview it is important to make the right impression from the word go. Use these Free Interview Tips to make a positive impression from the moment you arrive for your interview. Be prepared for any question you may have to face in your job interview. Use these Good Answers to Interview Questions and be confident that you can respond successfully to all interview questions. For interview questions and answers for specific jobs go to the Job Interview Guide. Facing a panel interview can be very stressful. Use these Panel Interview Tips to prepare and feel confident about your panel interview. Overcoming stress and anxiety is a key factor in making the right impression during your job interview. These tips for interview success will increase your confidence and reduce your nervousness, helping you come across as the winning job candidate!

Winning Job Interview Tips

Job interview tips for success. The more prepared and confident you are for your job interview the better your chances of getting the job you want.

There are a number of interview techniques that can help you with both your job interview preparation and to impress the interviewer as the right job candidate. Know what to bring to the job interview. Go through the advice on which documents and details you need to have before you set out for your interview at the Pre Interview Checklist. What should you prepare the day before the interview? Go to Tips for Interviews to find out. This practical advice on how to prepare for your job interview ensures that you arrive at the interview with exactly what you need.

Your interview begins when you arrive at the company. Learn how to make a good impression from the word go and leave behind a positive impact with everyone you have encountered at the company. Know how to greet your interviewer and how to match your communication style to the interviewer. Be aware of the message your body language is sending and understand the messages you are receiving from the interviewer. View the proven techniques that you can use during the interview to establish excellent rapport with your interviewer. Job interviews can be stressful. View the expert advice on how to control your interview anxiety and actually enjoy the interview process. Come across as an enthusiastic and positive candidate who fits the position.

Avoid common job interview mistakes. Know what not to do in the interview and stand out as the most professional job candidate. Tips on job interviews include knowing what to wear to the interview? Know how to dress appropriately for the interview. Go to the comprehensive advice that experts have put together on what what to wear for different job interviews. Essential steps to take include the importance of a professional sounding voicemail message and email address when you are involved in a job search and job interview process. Make sure these personal details present the right image to prospective employers. Check that your social networking profile is suitable. Use these job interview tips to guide you to interview success and get the job you want!

These articles will help you develop the interview skills and techniques you need to get the job you want.

Free Interview Tips to Win in Your Job Interview

Free interview tips to make the best impression during your job interview. Know how to stand out from the competition with winning job interview skills and get the job you want.

It is essential to make the right impression from the moment you enter the company for your job interview. Present yourself positively to everyone you meet and leave behind a good impression. You will be remembered as a candidate who was polite and friendly. Your job interview begins in the parking lot, act professionally as anyone could be observing you. As you arrive for you job interview, turn off your cell phone. Now you are completely focused on the interview and at no point will you be interrupted by a ringing phone! Using gadgets such as ipods or MP3 players while you wait for your interview gives the impression of a lack of interest and an unprofessional attitude. Free interview tips that help you to impress include greeting the receptionist politely and speaking confidently when you introduce yourself. Explain your reason for being there and ask for the interviewer by name. You should arrive about ten minutes early, spend this time making friendly small talk with the receptionist. You can gain some useful information about the company or interviewer as well as make a positive impression on the receptionist. You may be asked to complete some forms on arrival. Ensure you provide the correct information and complete all the requirements. Interviewers may ask their assistants for an opinion of the candidate. Make sure you are professional and polite to any support staff. View each contact you make in the company as a part of your job interview process.

The very first impression that the interviewer has of you is based mainly on your nonverbal clues - your appearance, how you dress for an interview and the way you greet the interviewer. Make sure you stand up, look directly at the interviewer and give a firm handshake, saying something along the lines of, "I am pleased to meet you, Mr Smith." It is always valuable to use the interviewer's name, this is the start of building good rapport. Wait for the interviewer to give you the signal to sit down, either a hand gesture or when he or she sits down themselves. If you are sitting at a table, place your document folder on the table rather than keeping it on your lap. If you have a handbag, place this on the floor by your feet. It will only get in the way on your lap or on the table. If there is no table think carefully before accepting the offer of something to drink. You don't want to have to balance a cup of coffee or glass of water throughout the interview!

Once the actual job interview begins there are a number of practical interview tips that can help you to perform successfully. Click on the table to the right for more free interview tips. When you walk into the interview the more prepared you are the greater your chances of success. The practical advice contained in preparation tips for interviews helps you to be both confident and ready for your job interview. Interview anxiety is a common problem. Learn how to reduce this at tips for interview success.

Read through the job interview tips on sending the right message with your interview body language. Understand what message the interviewer's body language is sending you and adjust your approach accordingly. Establish good rapport with your interviewer by communicating effectively and appropriately during the interview. View the free interview tips at tips for job interview communication to get the best results from your interaction with the interviewer. Feel prepared and confident by going through the pre-interview checklist before your interview. Proper follow up after the interview is key to job interview success. Go through these simple steps on how to follow up after the interview.

Know how to avoid common interview mistakes during the job interview. Come across as professional and prepared and impress as the right job candidate!

Best Preparation Tips for Interviews

Winning tips for interviews include conducting background research on the employer and gathering as much relevant company information as possible.

A couple of hours researching the company is your first step to good job interview preparation. This company information helps you to answer job interview questions effectively and to ask the most appropriate questions during the interview. Free resources for conducting background research on the company and the job can be found at Preparing for Job Interviews. Taking some time to prepare your best interview answers to common job interview questions and practicing these before the interview is the next essential step. For practical advice on answering common interview questions including sample interview answers go to Job Interview Questions. Try to spend a night or two before the interview practicing your answers. This will give you that extra bit of confidence you need to stand out as the right candidate. Practical tips for interviews include preparing all the documentation that you need to take with you to your job interview. Make a couple of good quality copies of your resume or CV. Read through your resume the night before to familiarize yourself with the information the interviewer has about you. Be prepared to explain all details. Be aware of any red flag areas such as gaps in employment that you will probably have to address with the interviewer. For useful advice on how to deal with potentially difficult topics during the interview go to Job Interview Answers to Tough Questions. Put together a professional and tidy-looking folder to take with you to the interview. In addition to copies of your resume, include copies of your cover letter and any references you have. Have names, addresses and phone numbers of any potential references in case the interviewer asks for these. Include copies of your relevant certificates or qualifications. Make sure you have a notebook and pen so that you can jot down details during the interview. If you have a copy of the job advertisement or a job description include these

in your folder together with print copies of the company background information you have sourced. You should have prepared some appropriate questions to ask the interviewer. Include a copy of these in your folder. View the comprehensive information on preparing the right Job Interview Question to Ask in your interview.

One of the most essential tips for interviews is to make sure you know where you are going, how long it will take you to get to the company and who to ask for once you get there! Call the company ahead of time and get good directions. Work out how long it will take to travel there. Give yourself sufficient time to arrive about 10 minutes early so that you can draw breath and settle down before your interview. Sometimes it is worthwhile having a practice run beforehand, particularly if you are unsure of your directions and timing. Include the directions in your folder. If you are using public transport plan your route carefully and make sure you know the right bus or train times.

Ask about parking at the company. If you are expected to find your own parking allow some extra time for this. Find out exactly where you need to go when you arrive at the company. This is particularly important when it is a big company with multiple buildings or entrances. You may be expected to go directly to a specific office, make sure you know how to get there once you enter the company. Write down the name and position of the person who you should ask for on arrival and get the interviewer's phone number in case you have to contact them for some reason such as getting stuck in traffic. Include all these details in your job interview folder. Make copies of any other information you may need to present during the job interview. For example, copies of proposals or presentations or letters of recommendation. You may not use these items but it is a good idea to include any documentation that supports your job application. Tips for interviews also include controlling pre-interview nerves! Before your interview try to get your body moving - go for a walk, do some stretches or any sort of exercise that gets you breathing properly and helps you relax.

Remember to eat something before the interview. A light meal or snack will give you some energy and prevent the embarrassing possibility of your stomach rumbling and gurgling during the interview! Practice smiling, repeat to yourself why you are the right candidate for the job and get into a positive frame of mind. By using these tips for interviews and preparing properly for your job interview you can be sure that you are both ready and confident to ace the interview! Know the company information you need to find out and how to use it effectively in your interview at Preparing for Interviews. Read the article Dressing for a Job Interview for useful advice on selecting your interview clothes. Use the Interview Checklist to check that you have everything ready for your job interview.

The Pre Interview Checklist

Use the practical interview checklist of what you need to do the day before your interview. You want to be sure that you are properly prepared and confident of getting the job.

Here is a list of what you should put in your portfolio or briefcase (Remember to clean out your briefcase first, you don't want irrelevant papers flying around when you are trying to retrieve documents from it!)

Full name of company, name and position of contact person/interviewer and contact number

Full address of company and the department or building where your interview is.

Good directions or map. Get these by calling the company, they usually have a standard set of directions they can email you or they can tell you on the phone.

You can also obtain a map from an internet map site such as Mapquest or Google Maps. If you are taking public transport have your route prepared.

Details of where you can park

Put in a couple of copies of your resume. Although the company already has a copy you may need to give another copy to the interviewer or interviewers. Take this opportunity to read through your resume again and note any red flags that will have to be dealt with during the interview. Prepare your job interview answers to tough questions about gaps in employment, reason for leaving etc.

Include copies of letters of recommendation or written job references you have.

Have copies of your job references list ready, the interviewer will ask for this during the job interview.

Relevant work samples

Pen and paper. Taking a few notes during your interview shows you are listening closely.

Your business card if you have one

The job advert or any details of the position that you have. You may want to refer to this during the interview.

Include your company background research. Review the research that you have put together about the organization and the job and consider how you will use it in your interview.

Put in the job interview question list you have prepared to ask the interviewer. You should prepare at least five insightful questions about the job, the company, and management. Read through these questions and feel confident about asking them. Go through your interview checklist once again to check you have everything.

Once you have prepared your portfolio, do the following on your interview checklist:

Visit the dress for an interview page and decide on the most appropriate clothes to wear to your interview. Take out the clothes you plan to wear and make sure they are clean and pressed. Shoes should be polished. Select the accessories you want to wear. Lay your outfit out ready for the next day.

Go through your prepared answers to common job interview questions such as What are your strengths? Why are you the right candidate for this job? Tell me about yourself? If you are going to be asked behavioral interview questions,think about your possible responses. The objective now is not to memorize your answers but to review them and be familiar and confident with them.

Try to practice your responses out loud. Ask a friend or family member to do a mock interview with you. Ask for feedback on other elements such as your interview body language, communication skills and clarity of your answers.

Make sure you have something nutritious to eat for breakfast the next day, you don't want your stomach rumbling or to feel hungry during your interview.

Get a good night's sleep knowing you are fully prepared to ace the interview!

This handy interview checklist is a sure way of knowing that you have done everything you need to win in your job interview. This site is full of information to help you succeed in your job interview. Use the search box below to find what you are looking for.

Prepare for your job interview by viewing the specific job interview guides, including interview questions and answers for management, sales and customer service, call center, accountancy, retail, help desk, Common behavioral interview questions project management positions and many more job types. include those that explore the ability to problem Behavioral Interview solve, use your initiative and make sound decisions. Questions & Sample Answers Prepare for your interview with the sample behavior based interview questions and answers Problem solving is a frequently required workplace below. competency whether the employer is exploring management competencies, sales competencies, customer service competencies or administrative competencies. Describe a difficult problem you had to sort out in your last job (Problem-solving) This behavior based interviewing question is designed to explore your ability to identify, analyze and solve problems. Show how you are able to gather and organize the necessary information and identify the best solution. Here is a sample behavioral interview answer that you can use as a guide to develop your own good answer. "We were getting a lot of complaints about late deliveries. (Situation) I met with the staff involved in the customer delivery department and discovered that the problem seemed to be with the stock coming through on time.

I investigated and found that requests for new inventory were not been processed fast enough. The backlog was in the orders department as they were not following up adequately with the suppliers. A system for regular follow up was quickly implemented. (Action) This sorted out the stock problems and the delivery staff were able to meet their deadlines." (Result) Describe a new idea or suggestion that you made to your supervisor recently (initiative) The ability to use your initiative is often explored during competency based interviewing. The interviewer wants to know if you are proactive and able to generate workable ideas. Show how you are a self-starter who will take action beyond what is asked of you. " I work in orders and the company was launching a new product. The sales team had indepth training on it but we had none. (Situation) I suggested that the orders department should also receive the training so that we would understand what was being ordered and be able to answer any questions if necessary. It was agreed we would all undergo a short version of the training. (Action) This meant that we could deal professionally with the orders. It also motivated us as we felt part of the launch team." (Result) Tell me about a time that you had to use your judgment and make a decision in your previous job (judgment/decision-making) Judgment is another essential behavioral competency in the workplace. The interviewer is exploring your ability to make logical decisions and take action. Show how you consider all the relevant facts, weigh up the alternatives and commit to the most appropriate action. "I was responsible for ordering office supplies for the company. (Situation) The company always ordered a month's supply at a time to keep inventory costs low. I had to decide whether to keep doing this or buy six month's supply and get a discount for ordering such a big volume and escape possible future price increases. I did some research and worked out we could reduce our costs by buying for six months, especially since the amount we used remained practically unchanged month on month. (Action) I was right, the prices went up quite a bit during those six months." (Result) Remember that these are sample answers that can be used to help you formulate your own examples from your previous jobs or other contexts when answering behavioral interview questions like these.

Get good advice on how to approach behavioral interview questions at The Behavioral Interview. Find interview answers to behavioral questions that explore your stress tolerance, resilience and adaptability at Sample Interview Question and answers for behavioral interviews. Expect behavioral interview questions that determine your ability to work as part of a team, your leadership skills and your negotiation skills. Get help with preparing your behavioral interview answers at Behavioral Interviews. Behavioral questions and sample answers that explore your attention to detail, work standards and organizational skills can be found at All Interview Questions and answers for behavioral interviews. Go to these Competency Based Interview Questions to view sample answers to behavioral-based interview questions that explore your reliability, integrity and energy. Get helpful behavioral interview tips and techniques at Behavioral Job Interviews.

12 Core Competencies
These are the 12 core competencies that have been identified as critical for successful job performance.

Different job types require specific competencies, however these 12 competencies are the most commonly recognized behaviors required for success in nearly all career fields. Organizations will explore these core competencies in the job interview by asking competency based interview questions, otherwise known as behavioral interview questions. What is a competency? You will find many different definitions of this concept. Here we define a competency as the knowledge, skills and behavioral attributes necessary for acceptable job performance. Knowledge refers to previous education and experience, skills refers to the technical or practical skills required to perform the job and behavioral attributes refer to personality characteristics that are key to successful job performance.

The 12 core competencies identified for job success Judgment/decision-making - able to make sound decisions based on information gathered and analysed. Consider all pertinent facts and alternatives before deciding on the most appropriate action. Teamwork /interpersonal - able to interact with people effectively. Able and willing to share and receive information. Cooperate within the group and across groups. Support group decisions. Quality Orientation/work standards - maintain high standards, attention to detail, accuracy and completeness. Show concern for all aspects of the job. Work Ethic/motivation - Energy and enthusiasm in approaching the job. Commitment to putting in additional effort. Reliability - take personal responsibility for job performance. Complete work in a timely and consistent manner. Keep commitments. Problem Analysis/problem solving - gather and organize all relevant information. Identify cause-effect relationships. Come up with appropriate solutions. Adaptability - adapts to changing work environment, work priorities, organizational needs. Able to deal with change and diverse people. Planning /organizing - plan and organize tasks and work responsibilities to achieve objectives. Set priorities. Schedule activities. Allocate and use resources properly. Communication - express ideas effectively. Organize and deliver information appropriately. Listen actively. Honesty/integrity - share complete and accurate information. Maintain confidentiality. Adhere to organizational policies and procedures. Meet own commitments. Initiative - take action to influence events. Generate ideas for improvement, take advantage of opportunities, suggest innovations, do more than required. Stress tolerance- emotionally resilient and able to withstand pressure on an on-going basis. Deal with difficult situations while maintaining performance. Seek support from others when necessary. Use appropriate coping techniques. Assessing the 12 core competencies in the job interview This is done by asking the job candidate competency based or behavioral interview questions that explore these competencies. A competency based interview question will ask the candidate to provide an example of when he or she displayed the required

competence or behavior in the past. "Tell me about a recent problem you discovered. What steps did you take to sort it out?" A more detailed explanation of this sort of job interview can be found at The Behavioral Interview.

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A list of behavioral or competency based interview questions with sample answers can be found at Behavioral Interview Questions. These behavioral or situational interview questions can be used to explore the 12 core competencies. Behavioral Interview Answers Go to Behavioral Interview Tips to find out the competencies relevant to different job types.

Behavioral Interview Answers

Behavioral interview answers. Get help preparing good answers to behavioral interview questions you may face in your job interview. Know how to handle behavioral questions. You can adapt these sample answers to your own circumstances and impress with a wellconsidered interview response.

Answering behavioral interview questions can be tricky. It is much easier if you are well prepared and you have practiced before the interview. Just the other day a job seeker sent me this email: "I have succeeded in getting the job, mainly thanks to your advice on getting through the behavioral interviews. Imagine for the past three years I have been doing interviews by winging it and making a fool of myself by rambling on and on." My experience is the majority of candidates do not know how to answer behavioral interview questions properly. They ramble on and do not provide interviewers with the information they are looking for. Distinguish yourself from the competition by preparing behavioral interview answers to

those questions that explore the competencies or behaviors required for successful performance in the job you are interviewing for. Use the Behavioral Interview Guide to get a good understanding of behavioral interview questions and answers. Go to Behavioral Interview Tips to find out which behaviors are likely to be explored in interviews for different jobs. A core behavior required for successful performance in a number of jobs is persuasiveness. Give me proof of your persuasiveness Tell me about a time you persuaded others to accept your idea Describe a situation when you were able to successfully influence another person Behavioral interview answers to questions that explore your ability to persuade and influence others should highlight how you select the right style of communication and interaction for the situation and individual you are dealing with. Your behavioral example should show how you identify the individual or group's needs and persuade them you can satisfy these needs with your product, service, approach or idea. Your answer should close with proof of how you gained commitment to the action you persuaded them to take. Excellent tactics for persuasion to focus on in your behavioral example include:

active listening focusing on the positive establishing common ground modeling the behavior you want demonstrating expertise and credibility communicating in a calm but assertive manner handling objections getting final commitment in writing or in public.

Good examples of persuasiveness in the workplace include:

getting people to accept change getting a project approved making a difficult sale getting an idea or recommendation accepted changing an individual's behavior or actions convincing someone to see things your way reaching agreement

negotiating a solution to a problem obtaining resources (budget, skills) to help you perform resolving disputes motivating a team or individual towards goal achievement negotiating a change to conditions of employment such as salary or working hours getting a change to your job description approved

Prepare behavioral interview answers for questions that explore your creativity. Creativity is not only about art or music, it is about coming up with new ideas, approaching situations differently and finding novel solutions to problems. Employers increasingly seek people who are able to generate ideas and come up with new approaches that create value for the company. Creativity in products, services, procedures and processes is key to organizational success and competitiveness. Tell me about a time you used your creativity to overcome an obstacle Give me an example of your resourcefulness Tell me about a time you tried a new way of doing something Creativity manifests itself in the workplace in a number of different ways. Demonstrate your creativity by using one of these examples relevant to your experience:

generating fresh solutions to work problems finding and suggesting new ways of doing things applying existing knowledge and information in novel ways finding resources to meet a need using existing resources (people, skills, technology) in a new way coming up with an original idea trying a different approach to a traditional way of working or thinking making connections between seemingly unrelated issues and activities integrating knowledge and information across job tasks improving a product/service/process by making gradual changes and refinements (creativity is not usually a single stroke of brilliance!)

Creative people display recognized behaviors. In your behavioral interview answers highlight how you:

welcome challenges persevere - creativity is hard work and takes time and energy are optimistic and positive view problems as opportunities understand that failure is part of growth

are fundamentally curious and have a questioning mind have knowledge and expertise that can be applied in the situation are willing to try something new possess a flexibility of outlook

The ability to effectively analyse information is essential to problem-solving and improvements in the workplace. Expect behavioral interview questions that explore your analytical skills. Tell me about a recent problem you uncovered in your job Describe a situation where you were required to analyze information in order to identify a need Give me an example of when you discovered a more efficient way to perform your job These key actions of analysis should be highlighted in your behavioral interview answers:

gathering all relevant information organizing information comparing information from different sources identifying underlying issues or problems recognizing patterns and trends identifying cause and effect relationships defining the desired outcome

Demonstrate your analytical skills by using one of these examples relevant to your own experience: finding the cause of a problem gathering and organizing information in order to make a decision preparing for a project or assignment drawing up a proposal developing a budget streamlining a work process determining training and development needs developing a strategy giving feedback

The manager interview focuses on six main areas of competence. These are Management job interview questions are designed to the abilities or explore the candidate's management-related competencies and competencies that a personal management style. Popular manager interview successful manager questions are outlined with practical answer guidelines. displays, regardless of age, gender, industry or organization. Prepare for interview questions that explore your ability to Management job interview questions include behavioral make decisions, delegate, interview questions that determine the candidate's level of competency in these areas. Prepare for your job interview by develop and motivate staff, communicate viewing these behavioral interview questions with answer guidelines at The Manager Interview Questions and Answers effectively and manage your work. Guide.

Management Job Interview Questions

Expect interview questions that explore your personal management style. These questions look at how you relate to employees and how well you fit with the company. The interviewer is looking for a manager that can fit in with the team and complement the current management style of the company. Interview questions include: What management style have you found to be the most effective? What type of people do you enjoy working with? Is there anything about your management style you would like to change? Expert answer guidelines to these interview questions can be viewed at Management Interview Questions. Management job interview questions will include those that investigate your understanding and knowledge of what management means in the context of today's changing business environment. Expect questions like: What do you consider to be the most challenging aspect about being a manager in business today? There are a number of complex challenges that managers now face including having access to fewer resources, managing more specialized and more diverse teams and having to operate within a constantly changing and highly competitive environment. Relate your answer to the knowledge you have of the job, the company and the industry. What are the most critical skills a manager needs to succeed in today's business climate? Refer back to the key behavioral competencies for a management position. Relate them to management tasks that are impacted on by current economic conditions, such as planning

and executing, cost-control, developing and motivating employees and communicating and managing change. What important trends have you picked up in our industry? Be prepared with two or three trends that demonstrate your knowledge of the industry. Consider technological challenges and opportunities, current economic conditions and demands and growing competitiveness. Your approach to personal and professional development will be evaluated with manager interview questions like What is your favorite management book? Be prepared with a list of books you have read about management and show a proactive approach to self development. Expect common job interview questions in your manager interview. Get interview answer help and tips to interview questions that focus on your strengths and weaknesses, your greatest achievements and your career goals at Typical Interview Questions and Answers. Interview questions with answer guidelines that determine you ability to handle conflict and deal with difficult situations can be found at Standard Interview Questions. Expect interview questions about your motivation and relationship with colleagues. Find excellent answer guidelines at Top Interview Questions. Project manager interview questions will include those that explore the most important competencies or behaviors that a project manager requires to be effective and survive in today's tough business environment. Questions that explore the competencies of team management, planning and organizing, negotiation, problem-solving, leadership and adaptability are discussed with interview answer guidelines at Project Manager Interview Questions. During the project manager interview you will be asked interview questions that focus on your training and experience with the efficient delivery of different projects. These are listed with answer guidelines at Project Management Interview Questions..

Project Manager Resume

YOUR FULL NAME Contact Details Your mailing address Your phone numbers Your email address Objective Example: Project manager in broad based technology and business process deployments Profile Statement Example: Certified project management professional with X years experience in project planning, implementation and execution. Proven ability to support multiple projects with medium to high complexity. Consistent track record of on-time and on-quality delivery. Offers the following excellent skills:

efficiently synthesize project information and accurately establish project scope set project costs and productivity benchmarks successfully manage and control budgets up to $X develop good working relationships with stakeholders at all levels to build consensus effectively lead and coordinate project teams of up to X members solve critical issues in a time-sensitive environment proven quality assurance, risk management and change management expertise

Thorough knowledge of:

cross-functional project management concepts, methods and practices information technology applications, processes, software and equipment business systems design and business process management testing techniques and methodologies

A results-driven professional with strong client-centric skills and an agile approach to project management.

Work Experience Project Manager JKH Advisory Services, Houston, TX January 2004 - Date

plan, direct and co-ordinate activities of multiple projects ranging in value from $X to $X in the areas of IT, Systems Integration and Business Process Management and Re-engineering responsible for the following projects ........ define project scope, objectives, staffing, resources and deliverables develop project plans that identify key issues, approaches and performance metrics plan and schedule project timelines and milestones formulate risk management plans assemble and coordinate multi-disciplinary project teams lead and mentor up to X project staff manage vendor relationships including negotiating and controlling contracts track project deliverables monitor quality assurance measures control project variances through root cause analysis and correction implement and manage project changes and interventions manage and control project budgets develop and present reports on project progress maintain communication with project stakeholders and manage expectations evaluate projects and assess results

Project Manager Dalcom Technology, Dallas, TX January 2000- December 2004

responsible for management of all phases of client service projects in areas of information technology and business systems engineering defined and documented business requirements and business processes developed project plans identifying key dates and resource requirements for the following projects .........

assembled and directed project teams of X members defined and controlled project budgets of up to $X tracked key milestones and adjusted project plans accordingly prepared and delivered reports and recommendations worked with clients (name clients eg. Texas Industries ) to coordinate project systems testing, installation and support

Junior Project Manager TexTec, Dallas TX September 1996 - December 1999

reviewed, evaluated, formulated and executed project plans, schedules and budgets for small to mid-size IT and organizational projects coordinated software design and development activities managed project closing and ensured project deliverables achieved within time, cost and scope

Education and Certifications University of Texas, Dallas, TX Bachelor of Science Degree in Management Information Systems 1996 Project Management Professional Certification through Project Management Institute 2000 Technical Skills MS Word Excel Outlook Powerpoint MS Project Knowledge of project management methodologies, techniques and tools knowledge of information technology applications, systems and processes knowledge of resource management policies and practices knowledge of change management techniques Core Competencies

organizational and planning skills oral and written communication skills data collection, analysis and management problem assessment and analysis attention to detail critical thinking decision-making delegation teamwork negotiation conflict management adaptability stress tolerance References

Available on request

Develop your own resume using the framework of this project manager resume sample. The detailed job description at Project Manager Job Description will help you develop your own project management resume. Use facts and figures from the specific projects you have managed to show what you have accomplished. Give details about the different projects you have run in your project manager resume.

Situational Interview Questions

Job seekers can expect to be asked situational interview questions to determine their suitability for the job they are interviewing for. Be well prepared by reading through the list of frequently asked situational questions with excellent answer guidelines.

Frequently asked situational interview questions.

Situational interviews, also commonly referred to as behavioral interviews and competency-based interviews, ask the candidate to provide specific examples of past behavior that demonstrate a required competency or behavior relevant to the specific job vacancy they are interviewing for.

Competency - Communication Skills All jobs involve some form of communication. Expect to be asked questions that explore this competency or ability in your job interview.

Give me an example from your previous job where you had to rely on information given to you verbally to complete a task. Your listening skills are under the spotlight here. Your situational example should include the following - the ability to actively listen, ask questions to clarify, rephrase the information back to the sender to ensure accuracy, successful completion of the task. Give me an example of a complex process or task you had to explain to another person or group of people. Are you able to effectively express yourself verbally? Include the ability to adapt your level of communication (words and terminology) to the target audience, actively listen to questions and requests for more information, check for understanding by asking for feedback. Tell me about a challenging writing assignment or important report you had to prepare recently. Your situational or behavioral example should demonstrate an ability to clearly express your ideas in writing. Include how you can gather, organize and present data in a logical and concise manner in a style appropriate to the target readership. Competency - Interpersonal Skills Most jobs require interaction with other people - colleagues, customers, managers etc. Prepare for situational interview questions that explore your interpersonal effectiveness. We have all had to work with someone who is difficult to get along with. Give me an example of when this happened to you and how you handled it. How sensitive, empathetic and flexible are you? Your example should show how you are able to select the right approach to the situation or individual. Acknowledge differences and display empathy to others. Focus on the situation not the person. Anticipate reactions and prepare to deal with them. Tell me about a situation when a colleague was less cooperative than you needed or wanted.

Tell me about two of your colleagues/customers/employees who are very different to each other. How do you interact with each one?

Provide an example that demonstrates your use of an appropriate interpersonal style to gain commitment, to ask for help and encourage involvement. Show how you used open communication and built self-esteem to get cooperation.

Demonstrate your ability to adapt your behavior to meet the demands of each individual. How you are able to determine the best way to approach each individual? Describe a situation when you had to persuade someone recently to accept an idea/plan/product. This focuses on your persuasiveness and ability to build rapport with others. How did you select the right approach for the situation? How did you go about establishing rapport with others? How did you demonstrate the benefits of your idea or plan and show them what's in it for them? Competency - Decision Making Skills and Judgment Every employee is required to make decisions as part of their job. Situational interview questions will explore your ability to use your judgment to make the right decisions. Tell me about a good decision you made recently at work. Your example should show how you gather all the necessary information to make a decision. How you consider available resources and possible outcomes before making your decision. Tell me about a recent problem you faced at work and how you found the best solution. How did you go about analyzing the problem before considering possible solutions. Describe how you weighed the pros and cons of each option before deciding on the best solution. Tell me about a mistake you made at work and how you dealt with it. The ability to recognize and acknowledge one's mistakes is a sign of maturity and selfgrowth. Your example needs to demonstrate how you used your judgment to review the situation and evaluate information to determine why it happened and what measures you put in place to prevent it from occurring again. What recent innovation have you made at work that had a positive outcome?

The focus is on how you used your initiative to generate ideas for improvement and develop new approaches. How did you evaluate what needed to be changed, how did you decide on which changes to make and how to implement them ?

All Interview Questions & Answers to Succeed in Job Interviews

All interview questions will include behavioral or situational interview questions. The questions asked in behavior based interviews are designed to determine whether you demonstrate the behaviors required for success in the job.

View a list of standard interview questions with answers at the bottom of this page. Here we help you to prepare for common behavioral interview questions that you are likely to face in your job interview. Common work-related behaviors that are explored in behavior interviewing include your work accuracy and your attention to detail, the quality of your work and how you plan and organize your work day. The sample interview answers given here help you to prepare your own winning behavioral interview answers. Describe what you do to control mistakes in your work (attention to detail) In asking this behavioral interview question the interviewer wants to know if you are able to accurately complete your tasks with close attention to all aspects of your work. Show that you are concerned with maintaining accuracy and check your work for errors. In my last position I had to make all the travel arrangements for my manager. (Situation) I listened carefully, noted down what she needed and then read it back to her to confirm that I had it right. I would also follow up with a detailed email to check again. Once I had made the arrangements I would set up a time to give her feedback and check I had everything she needed. I then followed this up with an email with all the confirmed details. (Action) This was time-consuming for both of us but it meant that no errors were made in the arrangements. It would have been more frustrating and costly not to have made such thorough checks" (Result)

Tell me about a time that you were not satisfied with your work performance. What did you do about it? (Work Standards) All interview questions around work performance are designed to explore whether you set high standards for yourself and strive to meet these standards. What do you consider to be a "high standard"? Show how you attempt to attain high performance standards and correct substandard performance. "My performance review rating was lower than I had expected or wanted. (Situation) I met with my manager to establish a plan of action for improvement and set very specific targets to be met on a monthly basis. I worked hard to meet these targets and constantly monitored my performance. I also asked for regular feedback about my performance. (Action) After six months, my boss conducted another review and my rating was much higher." (Result) Describe a situation in which you had to schedule your activities to meet an objective (planning and organizing) The interviewer is exploring your ability to set objectives and schedule and prioritize your activities appropriately. Show how you are able to establish a course of action, allocate resources accordingly and plan tasks to reach objectives. "I had to complete a training report every month. This involved collating and presenting a large amount of information. (Situation) I scheduled all the data collecting tasks. Each department was given a monthly deadline to submit information to me and I scheduled reminders to be sent out before the deadline. I set aside a time in my diary each month to collate all the information and check it. Then I allocated time for drawing up and presenting the report. (Action) This worked well and I always comfortably met my deadline." (Result) Prepare your own examples for the behavior based interview using all interview questions and the sample answers as a guide.