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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Jobs/Vacancies / Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them (26697 Views)
18 Common Interview Questions, Tips And Answers / 50 Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them / 50 Common Interview Questions And Answers (2) (3) (4)
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by adewasco2k(m): 4:37pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
Conclusionnice one though |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by Nobody: 4:41pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
I have also been at the other end,interviewing prospective colleagues and giving my recommendations . The first time,the lady came in so shabbily dressed and that put me off.She was also extremely extroverted ,bossy and talkative and when it came time for my opinion,I was frank about it and I was not alone,she was not hired. The second time, this other lady was very moody,did not smile one bit,looked unhappy and even had the guts to ask the interviewers to describe what they did for research and we went round the table answering her question.That was the end of her quest for hire. Ladies keep your flashy jewelry at home unless you are interviewing for a fashion store.if it is a professional or cooperate outfit,small earrings and a simple gold or silver necklace will do No loud make ups,natural looking lipstick color or eyeshadow, they are not looking for a masquerade. Then please please please,turn off your phone completely It should neither ring,chime nor buzz Employers now check fb profiles too,be careful what you put out there or allow people put on your wall,it could be used to judge you 2 Likes |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by Nobody: 4:52pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
9ce 1 op! I would like to kw if the question concerning one's weaknesses has to do with the job's weaknesses or normal life weaknesses. I have an interview 2moro and would like to be enlightened, not just in d weaknesses but also in all Thanks |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by Nobody: 4:56pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
austushi1: 9ce 1 op! I would like to kw if the question concerning one's weaknesses has to do with the job's weaknesses or normal life weaknesses. I have an interview 2moro and would like to be enlightened, not just in d weaknesses but also in all Relate it to the job somehow. That weakness has to be a strength in a way What type of job are you interviewing for and what have you done in the last let me help you frame one |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by lekzy007(m): 5:00pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
crusufixo: @ op , thanks for the tip. I actually have an interview tomorrow. A tread of this nature was opened in the past on this forum and being searching for it but was unable to find it. And now you've opened a new one. God Bless you !!!! This is the link for dat success.... www.nairaland.com/1096093/unconventional-job-interviews-experienced/2#12889352 |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by adonisyung(m): 5:01pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
Nice 0ne! A̶̲̥̅♏ still æ student but n0 kn0wledge ƻ æ waste! |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by Nobody: 5:08pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
Baby mama: Procurement! Thanks. |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by ud4u: 5:14pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
good one, thanks |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by kollytin(m): 5:15pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
Hmmmmmm questions indeed! |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by Jambsupport(f): 5:19pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
gud thread i remb des questns |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by dickson4341(m): 5:35pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
h |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by Hardfact: 5:49pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
Jarus: Nice one. A few more tips: What if you are asked how much you earn currently, will it be wise to inflate, whether entry level or not? |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by Jarus(m): 6:16pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
Hardfact: I will not advise inflating. They are most likely going to ask you to provide payslip or employment/payrise letter. Except you're sure they can never ask, like in small unstructured companies that don't have resources or time to go into details. In my current job, during the negotiation (which was on phone after the interview) I was aksed to scan and send to them my payslip and pay letter from my then current employer. |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by Jarus(m): 6:37pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
The last time I was asked the weakness question was the first interview I attended shortly after I finished school - one investment institution. Then, I had no work place experience and skills and my responses to interviews then were more of tailor-made, theories, like answering exams questions. I had read materials on interviews like this and had tailor-made answers for most of teh questions. When asked what was my weakness in that interview, I remember answering thus: "(with some emotional tone) No human is perfect and I don't think I am an exception. When 2, 3 people say something about you(with hand gestures), there is high likelihood of truth in it, so maybe they are right. I will say that is my weakness" Then one of the interviewere - the lead interviewer actually - cut in "hmmnnn(slow voice coming up with every word) something like you are overzealous to get things done" I then replied, "Maybe. But it's driven by my burning desire to always succeed as a team and getting along with a little slow people can be quite difficult for me. But I'm working on it, I'm learning to understand the little differences we can have as individuals in a team. Because one thing is certain - everyone will want the best of the team, even if there is little difference in style" That was my first job interview years ago. I got the job. However, these days, I hardly prepare tailor-made answers to interviews again. Waht I pay the most attention to is knowing reasonably well about the company and the industry and establish some confidence. For these other general questions, answers will flow almost naturally. |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by Nobody: 6:48pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
Let me imagine I am applying for a job at Macdonalds as a an area supervisor Why Do You Want to Work for our company?A good answer is this. Yours is a very reputable company in the fast food industry,Macdonalds is a household name ,who wouldn't want to work for a company that for the last 50?? Years has prided itself in community development and continued advancement of it's employees. One of the things dear to my heart is community service and the fact that McDodald has been at the fore front of helping families with childhood cancers through the Ronald Macdonald foundation sets it apart from others in the public eye. [Why Should I Hire You? You can also say this You sould hire me because I believe I will fit perfectly with your company ideals and I have the skills you are looking for For the past 8 years I have been in the customer service industry and 3 of those as a supervisor over 15 staff at xyz store.In the years I have been there,we have consistently kept our retail numbers up.Infact our store received an award in the last 2 years during my leadership. I have also recently completed a diploma certification in business administration .
I agree with the last portion of that answer. You can say,I am a very driven person and would want a job done and done fast so sometimes I have to remember that others may not be at that pace,that is a weakness I think I have Why Did You Leave Your Previous Job? I moved I took time off to take care of a sick relative I went bak to school I am still at my job but looking for a more exciting opportunity at your company The interviewer wants to know your unique qualities. In answer this question, you can use your skills, experience and education as a point of reference. For instance, “I speak 4 languages fluently” or “I have a PhD in Physics” or “I have worked on a very similar project, and I know exactly what to expect”. You can then go to town about your skills And repeat some of the good tings you said earlier about your unique skills What Are Your Career Goals? I am looking for an opportunity of growth in my career and a company I can grow with If this is a different field from where you have been,the line below will be excellent Even though I have spent most of my career in the XYZ field,I am very adaptable to any changing environment and always willing to learn new things.
Whatever you do,I take God beg una,never give a prospective employer your salary goal That is a no no When they hire you and offer a salary you can then negotiate If they insist,you can ask the range of salary for people with your skills level and position and ask them to allow you think over it. Never state a salary at the first interview,that could be the end of it,it is an elimination tool sometimes.in the second interview it is ok Conclusion The important thing is to be prepared for the interview. You can practice answering those questions for a smooth presentation to woo the interviewer. http://www.knowledgecentreng.com/2012/06/7-common-interview-questions-and-how-to.html My answers in color Never sound beggarly Don't look desperate,the world is unfair to desperate people 2 Likes |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by wisdomolusola: 6:58pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
Quite insightful and educative. Why did you leave your former job or why do you want to leave answer could for a career growth. |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by Nobody: 7:17pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
Hardfact: The problem there is that they may know someone there or have an idea what people at your position are paid so if you lie,it could backfire big time |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by Jarus(m): 7:23pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
Baby mama: Let me imagine I am applying for a job at Macdonalds as a an area supervisorNice one. 2 Likes |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by Nobody: 7:24pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
Baby mama: Still waiting for ur response! I said procurement |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by Nobody: 7:32pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
[size=18pt]What if you were fired or laid off from your previous job,how do you answer that question?[/size] My suggestions Be honest If you lie,they may find out you lied and you won't get the job You can still be truthful but coin your words well and highlight your strengths e.g. Something like this I previously worked for Coca Cola as an inventory analyst for 7 years.( this tells them you are a good dependable worker with 7 years at a job) Over the years ,the company has gone through several restructuring and this time around my unit was eliminated but then the skills I acquired in my years there is one I can bring to your company.( this way you have hyped yourself up rather than sound pathetic) If you were actually fired you can say something like this if it fits CocaCola was my first job out of school,it was a good learning experience,there were some little conflicts in personality between my immediate boss and I but I am still thankful I had the opportunity to learn bla bla bla in my few years there and now ready to add to our company . The above answer is short but still tells the story.no details needed,your dignity intact. 1 Like |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by Jarus(m): 7:41pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
wisdomolusola: Quite insightful and educative. Why did you leave your former job or why do you want to leave [/b]answer could for a career growth. Look for something the new employer(the new company you're seeking to join) has but the old one (the one you're currently in) doesn't have and package it. e.g When asked same question in an interview I did (I was seeking to move from one downstraem oil company to another), I answered thus: WWW is the old coy and YYY the new one I was seeking to join. WWW wasn't a multi-national, YYY was. "No doubt WWW is a company doing fine in its own right (never badmouth your employer!), a group of young men doing fine managing the company, but right from my school days, I had always wanted a world class environment where I can hone my skills with the best of brains from across different countries. I believe YYY offers a platform to achieve this, to maximize my potential. YYY is a multi-national and I believe it offers me a fantastic platform and it fits more into my career goal" Another one, leaving the WWW company(a Group consisting of upstream and downstream but upstream less developed) and interviewing for another company ZZZZ, which was more of upstream, relatively new in Nigeria but doing well. I responded to that question thus; "No doubt WWW is a good place, run by a group of ambitious young men (rule: never ever badmouth your employer!). However, having reviewed my career goal viz-a-viz the growth and value-adding opportunities offered by both companies, I think this organization(ZZZ) would provide a better platform not only for my development but opportunity to add more value. I have spent x years in the downstream division of teh industry and I think I your company would offer a fantastic opportunity to hone my skills at teh upper end of the stream and become an all-round oil and gas accountant. Yours is also a coming just coming up and from my review, you've got great potential. I see this company as becoming a force to reckon with within the next few years and I would be glad to be part of teh success, to be part of the team that contributed to teh success". We didnt agree on pay terms for teh first one, but by teh grace of God, I am today in the second one. |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by Nobody: 7:43pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
austushi1: Sorry sweetie,I missed your post. By procurement I take it you will be doing some purchasing, ,price negotiations and keeping inventory etc. How about this "I often set daily goals for myself and work hard to achieve that goal,my weakness I would say is sometimes coming down a little hard on subordinates who are not pulling their weight to get the job done as and when needed " Here you have showcased yourself as a hard worker who will not let others slack ,so what if you a little nasty in the process,it is not a bad weakness for the owners of that company.They need someone like that. |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by Nobody: 7:54pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
Another good tip for you younger people entering the workforce Never ever bad mouth your previous employer Never! When you say anything bad about your last place you come off as a whiny troublemaker,no body wants a trouble maker as an employee or co worker Keep those stories to yourself I sued one of my employers a few years out of school and won a small judgement,of course I will never tell that story in an interview That is my personal business Words like,"it was not a good fit for me " ," it was the first job i got out of school and not exactly what I was looking for " are good but always remember to say the good things you learned and how you grew professionally in your years there.when well coined,it will outweigh any reasons why you left I will try to answer any questions anyone may have 1 Like |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by ogooumeh01(f): 8:26pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
Nice post dear! Thanks. |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by Ukeme453: 9:55pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
Am so greatful to this guy that post this guide, may the almighty God bless you wholly, amen. |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by Nobody: 11:09pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
Now what if you have been working a regular entry level job and now applying for a supervisory or higher level position with another company and they ask about your abilities since this will be your first managerial type position. My advice You have to prepare yourself for this by taking on roles and volunteering to go beyond your regular call at your present place.Ask for responsibilities.step in when other workers are taking time off,work some odd hours like during holidays if the office will be open and coverage is needed,volunteer to do it and do it well.It may earn you a good promotion at your present place if an opportunity arises and when you interview elsewhere it is a good bragging tool especially if they will seek references from your old place. No knowledge is ever lost even the ones you think will lead no where can be big assets in the future. I once worked a job I didn't really like but I did it because it was available.10 years later,I am applying to move to another job and the skills I acquired at that other job I left ages ago became a huge plus at my interview. If you are interviewing for your first higher level or supervisory position,they will be wondering how you will perform since you have not been here before Some good way to answer the question on skills will be as follows for instance. " I have been a sales representative for Obioma enterprises for 5 years.I am/was in charge of blah blah blah ( name everything you did ),while I was not in management,I had opportunities to lead blah blah blah.I took charge of blah blah on several occasions when my supervisor was out of town and ensured the smooth running of our department.I assisted in the blah blah blah ( name every special project you participated in).In the 5 years I was there I also took part time classes at LASU on blah blah blah to position myself for career advancement.I believe I am prepared now to take on more challenges and showcase my skill if given the opportunity. This is just a suggestion.I advice anyone in that position to practice those or similar answers in front of a mirror or have a knowledgeable friend ask you those questions and let them critic you In my interview I needed to give an hour power point presentation I gave it to a friend who was honest with me and helped correct me in places. Remember the employer has many other candidates vying for that position, some more qualified,you have to set yourself apart and make them remember you Don't let your outfit or any physical appearance look outrageous Don't pour one bottle of perfume or cologne on you Bathe and apply a deodorant antiperspirant and a light perfume Look well groomed,no bushy hairs for the males,no outrageous wigs or Igbo movie hairdos ,no scary looking eye pencils Your speaking skills must be impeccable,right tenses and diction,appear nice and friendly and like-able even if the job entails washing dead bodies at a morgue,it is the living that will hire you. You need to impress them. I am still waiting to hear from my prospective employer,still at my old place but I am hopeful. Will l keep you all updated on this thread how it went |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by Nobody: 11:30pm On Nov 12, 2012 |
A mistake I made at an interview in my 20s I was young and naive The interviewer asked me what would be the worst thing anyone could do to me at the job,the things I cannot stand I answered truthfully but it was the wrong answer at an interview or I phrased it wrongly and was not hired.I knew immediately after answering the question that I will not be hired I could see it on the face of the lady . I told her I was inpatient when people talked down on me and I would not let people talk down on me and cannot stand people doing that to me.i went on and on and by the time I realized it I had talked myself out of the job because I painted a picture of a proud,unbending,stuck up person that may be a boss' nightmare. I would have a different answer today. That is a trick question that can floor any young person. Nobody wants to know your bad side at interviews so hide it well and project all things good. |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by Sike(m): 11:38am On Nov 13, 2012 |
BOOKMARKED! |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by Nobody: 12:13pm On Nov 14, 2012 |
[quote author=Baby mama]A mistake I made at an interview in my 20s I was young and naive The interviewer asked me what would be the worst thing anyone could do to me at the job,the things I cannot stand I answered truthfully but it was the wrong answer at an interview or I phrased it wrongly and was not hired.I knew immediately after answering the question that I will not be hired I could see it on the face of the lady . I told her I was inpatient when people talked down on me and I would not let people talk down on me and cannot stand people doing that to me.i went on and on and by the time I realized it I had talked myself out of the job because I painted a picture of a proud,unbending,stuck up person that may be a boss' nightmare. I would have a different answer today. That is a trick question that can floor any young person. Nobody wants to know your bad side at interviews so hide it well and project all things good. [\quote] And till this day you are doing the same thing over and over..... Go through your prior posts. You always chat up a whole storm of rubbish. 1 Like |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by juanmartin(m): 7:44pm On Mar 05, 2013 |
U too much jo 1 Like |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by Nobody: 11:21am On Jul 10, 2014 |
Nice one guys! Keep them coming... |
Re: Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them by toygod2: 5:36am On Oct 05, 2014 |
nice |
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