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SMP Solutions Guide to 10 Challenging Interview Questions
Understanding the hidden meaning behind these key questions could give you a vital edge in winning interviews.
It will provide you the opportunity to practice your answers so that they become second nature, which should really help your confidence for the big day!
Remember that employers are always looking for specific examples of evidence to prove your competence in a range of job related areas.
Therefore it is important to highlight positive examples where you have proven success or expertise and sell yourself to show how you can add value to the business.
1 Tell me about yourself
MEANS – Can you sell yourself and is most people’s nightmare question!
APPROACH - Give a quick snapshot of your career history, skills and personality to show you in the most positive light. However, don’t ramble. Remember that you should ‘aim to intrigue not to inform’!
2 Why did you apply for the job?
MEANS - How motivated are you?
APPROACH - Research the job beforehand, state the benefits you expect to gain and also those you offer. Explain why you want this job and not why you are looking to leave yours, unless there is an obvious link and it adds weight to your answer.
3 What do you do in your spare time?
MEANS - Are you a rounded person. However, be wary as it could also mean would your hobbies interfere with work?
APPROACH - Go over your outside interests quickly, emphasising any work-related skills they give you.
4 When have you been involved in teams?
MEANS - Are you a team player?
APPROACH - Highlight any work related team roles but you can also add any out of work activities, to add another dimension but try to link your answers to the job.
5 What are your main strengths and weaknesses?
MEANS: Are you self-aware and capable of developing?
APPROACH - Link your strengths to the job. Choose positive weaknesses and turn them into strengths e.g. ‘I sometimes get frustrated when people don’t work to my standards but I suppose that shows that I take great pride in my work’!
6 Why should we employ you?
MEANS- Can you add value to the company?
APPROACH - Make brief but compelling comparisons between the job description and your skills and again use specific examples and facts to reinforce your answer.
7 When did you last work under pressure or deal with conflict and how did you
cope?
MEANS - Can you cope with problems efficiently?
APPROACH - Think of an example and explain how you dealt with it successfully.
8 Where would you like to be in five years time?
MEANS - How committed and motivated will you be?
APPROACH - If you do have some insight into where you are heading, think of some of the functions and responsibilities you would hope to have. Otherwise, best you explain that you would be looking to make a success of the role you are applying for before moving up the ladder.
9 Sell me this product
MEANS - Can you think on your feet?
APPROACH – Be prepared and practice for such a question, do your homework on the company and the products they sell and confidently demonstrate your skills in action.
10 What salary do you expect?
MEANS - How do you rate yourself?
APPROACH - Don’t undersell (or oversell) yourself. Research the market rate for similar roles and either give a salary you consider appropriate or a range to show
you’re prepared to be flexible but to also play them at their own game!
Copyright SMP Solutions (2007) Career & Personal Development Consultancy
'helping you unlock your potential'
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