Below if our latest submission for this week’s 24 hour newspaper: Part 1 – Interview Answers the Right Way

Part 1 – Interview Answers the Right Way.

Job Interview Answer Notes:

Over the past few months, we have received messages from all types of job seekers from Certified Nursing Assistants to Mechanical Engineers asking to about how to answer specific interview questions. Since there is quite a bit to cover, I plan to take the next few weeks covering common job interview questions and providing sample interview answers.

The job interview is perhaps one of the most stressful situations most would like to bypass, but difficult to avoid. The interviewer’s questions can act as the catalyst for your own fear; and the only way to get over the fear is to prepare.

So let’s start the interview by responding positively towards open ended questions. Here are some questions you can expect to start of an interview and how to answer them.

Common Interview Question:  “What is you greatest weakness?”

This is probably the one of the most difficult questions anybody can face; especially because we hate talking about ourselves. It’s only human nature that we never like to share too much about ourselves, especially if it is negative. If faced with this question, try and avoid a weakness that is directly related to the job. Focus your interview answer on a personal weaknesses and one NOT related to the job that can easily be fixed and you are taking the right steps to want to fix them. For example, “It’s never affected my job as a Certified Nursing Assistant but I get nervous when public speaking and usually freeze up in front of a large audience. Since this has been a weakness of mine for quite awhile, I thought I would overcome this weakness by joining toastmasters”.

Again, it’s important to note that we cited a weakness that was NOT a core job requirement.  As a Certified Nursing Assistant, a weaknesses of “public speaking” is not a deal breaker as opposed to a “lack of patience”.

Common Interview Question: “What kinds of decisions are most difficult for you to make?”

Job Interview Answer Notes:

We are faced with decisions everyday, but be careful about this question….don’t admit too much. Try to use key profiles to answer this question: “Its not that I have much difficulty in making decisions, its just that some take more consideration than others depending on the situation and risks involved”. This is a trick question, so be sure that your interview answer takes your boss and colleagues into consideration. For example, “I was planning to get away on vacation, but our department was under pressure, especially with a few people away or sick. As lead CNA, by going away I would leave my team and managers in a bind, so I spoke to my family about the situation and decided to postpone the vacation until after the deadline was met”. In this example the individual demonstrated consideration, departmental concern and the company bottom line – This is Big.

Common Interview Question: “What are your feelings about your last employer?”

Job Interview Answer Notes:

Always respond in a positive manner and keep your personal feeling to yourself whatever you may think. Refrain from a long job interview answer to this one. Your interview answer should be “great” or “very good” then smile and wait for the next question. There is a strong belief by most employers that people who complain about past employers will only cause a problem for the new one as time goes on.

Join me next week for part 2 of interview answers the right way. Until then, best of luck in your job interview.