You’ve filled out your job application. If you fit the role, your would-be employer will ask to meet you for at least one and sometimes multiple face-to-face interview sessions. Whether you are a highly paid executive or a novice seeking to become a trade apprentice, how you handle this part of the process goes a long way in determining whether you land the job.
Some people do better than others meeting face-to-face. You must be prepared to talk about yourself and why you want the job. As one who has been both an interviewer and interviewee on numerous occasions, I know there are certain types of questions favored by most employers. Here are some frequently asked questions that you should be prepared to answer.
Tell me about yourself. This is not really a question, but an inquiry designed to get you talking. I made it a point to ask this every time I conducted a job interview. A good interviewer will spend little time speaking, instead hoping to hear from the interviewee 90% of the time. So, prepare to spin your tale before you go in. When applying for a position in the skilled trades, incorporate your love of building and fixing things.
Why should we hire you? If you can’t give a strong answer to this one, you probably won’t get hired. A good response: “Because I’ll work my tail off and learn everything I can as fast as I can.”
What do you know about our company? This is a bit of a trick question. If you say you know nothing or very little, it probably won’t disqualify you, but if you do a little research ahead of time and talk to current employees, you can make a great impression on a future boss by showing you do your homework.
What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses? This one frequently pops up. I stopped asking it in job interviews because the “weakness” part usually ends up as a disguised positive trait, along the lines of “I’m a workaholic” or “I take it too hard when I make a mistake.” It’s okay to play that game.
Why did you leave your last job? If you’re looking for more money, better opportunity or a more interesting position, or got laid off for economic reasons, say so. If you got fired for some misdeed, the temptation will be great to lie about it. But an employer will probably be able to find out with some minimal background research. Better to offer an explanation that puts you in the best possible light.
Tell me how you handled a difficult situation? This requires some thought on your part. Think about it beforehand and prepare to discuss it in a way that will leave the employer anxious to hire you.
Some employers may have certain trick questions that will leave you tongue-tied. Way back when I was a youngster seeking my first full-time employment, an interviewer asked me what my favorite breed of dog was. I can only guess that this person associated characteristics of different dog breeds with their owners. I didn’t get the job and have no idea whether my answer had anything to do with my rejection.
A trade employer that I knew told me he asks every would-be hire to sing “Happy Birthday.” It had nothing to do with the job at hand. He just wanted to see how the person reacted and whether he/she had a sense of humor.
One final tip. A job interview is about selling yourself. You want to emphasize all the positives and downplay the negatives. Avoid talking about things you dislike or troubles with past employment. Emphasize all the positive traits you bring to the role.
Accentuate the positive, but never tell an outright lie. Better to say you don’t know or admit to certain shortcomings. Remember, be as prepared as possible and show your enthusiasm for the role.
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