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Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by AMZYMAYO(m): 11:19pm On Aug 28, 2015
I salute all of you checking this thread. After a successful insight shared in
https://www.nairaland.com/1947325/step-by-step-cv-writing-entry-level
I feal it is high time we take it forward. I must apologize for the delay in bringing up this new thread. But I hope you find time to forgive me.

Most of the materials I will be using for this thread are not mine, I just need your attention as we walk the journey of interview together.

You asking where you will come in? Good question. You will come in by pasting your solutions to the assignment that will be given here almost everyday.

I give glory to God, and I dedicate this thread to God the Father, Son and the Holy spirit. Never mind some of my errors, if you note them, just correct them when you read in your mind.

Let the journey of over 2 months begin!

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Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by emekamn(m): 11:25pm On Aug 28, 2015
oya na cool
Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by AMZYMAYO(m): 11:32pm On Aug 28, 2015
First of all, what is an interview? The way you define it will determine what your performance will be during the process. In simple language, an interview is the face to face meeting between a single person or group of people to access a candidate. Of course, interview has a lot of meanings, but let us stick to the above.

Now, after understanding what interview is, let us delve a little further.

Interview is a phase out of the many phases of candidate selection. The first being the submission of your cover letter attaching your cv into it. The next, probably, is writing of test (which I believe has come to stay due to the number of people applying for a position), and, of course, the interview. From our elaborate concise definition, interview's primary aim is to expose the so to say most qualified, and sometimes not the best. Are you confused? Alright, if a savvy engineer meets an average engineer during an interview, the average engineer MAY get the job if he is able to convince the interviewers that he is the best candidate for the job. I hope you get it now?

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Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by AMZYMAYO(m): 11:40pm On Aug 28, 2015
Four things interviewers watch out for in you are:
Competence: Interviewers look to recruit people who have the skills and personal
qualities to do the job with minimal supervision.

Confidence: Employers want to hire people who are at least reasonably composed
and secure about themselves. They want people who can deal with new people and
new situations without turning into a trembling wreck!

Commitment: Interviewers want to give the job to someone who sticks at it. They
want a self-motivated person who persists in the face of difficulties rather than gives
up at the first sign of trouble.

Chemistry: Interviewers want someone that they feel they can get on with. All
employers feel they have a unique culture – and want to know that you can fit in with
the rest of the team.

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Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by ifekemmie(f): 11:49pm On Aug 28, 2015
Ride on @ Op
Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by AMZYMAYO(m): 11:54pm On Aug 28, 2015
Before you head out at all to an interview location, make sure you do the following. Please, don't be in a hurry or you may end up being in a hurry to be dumped out of the interview office. They are:

(flashback before your interview call) Revise your CV. Avoid sending exactly the same CV to every single job that you go
for. Most people tailor their covering letter, but for extra points tailor your CV to each
individual application as well. If, for example, you are applying for a customer
service job, make sure you draw out your experience with customers.

Get a second opinion. Ask a couple of friends or trusted colleagues to comment on
your CV and covering letters. Their objectivity may allow them to spot errors that you
make in your job applications.

Gain more of the right experience. If you have made every effort to revise your CV
and tailor your covering letter, perhaps you lack the right experience and skills. You
may need to rethink the kind of jobs that you are applying for.

2. (Gather relevant information about the organization)- Begin your research by reading any information that an organisation sends you –for example, recruitment brochures, prospectuses, job descriptions and even catalogues of their products or services.

Even if an organisation doesn't send you any information, look at their website. If
you can't find their site on the Internet, try calling the organisation to ask for the
website address.

Good research can make the difference between success and failure. Make
sure that you spend at least a couple of hours reading the organisation's literature and
scouring their website for information.

Absorb as much information as you can about the company, their aims and
objectives, and what they do. At a very minimum, find the answers to questions such
as:
*What are the goals or objectives of the organisation?
*How many people work for the organisation?
*Where is the organisation based? Do they operate only within Nigeria, Africa or
globally?
*Where is their main office or corporate headquarters? How many offices, shops, ventures etc do they have
*When was the company founded? Who were the founders? (This is a particularly
important question for smaller organisations.)
*What is the name of the organisation's chief executive officer (CEO) or managing
director?
*Who are the organisation's main competitors? How does this particular organisation
differ from its competitors?
*What major threats and issues affect the organisation?
Is the company growing and expanding? If so, what are its stated goals and priorities
with regards to growth?
*How is the organisation performing financially?

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Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by AMZYMAYO(m): 12:17am On Aug 29, 2015
3. Make sure you have gone through your cv from front to back and you know everything verbatim. Interview questions sometimes come from your cv. Another thing, did you lie in your cv, you may be on your way out e. g, if you can't operate Microsoft packages, don't put proficiency on your CV. Having a clear and truthful cv is better than a professional lie. Hope you grab?

4. Try to visit their office before interview. Chat up with some folks. Who knows, you might be speaking with your interviewer. Another advantage of visiting is to enable you see how things are being done there. No amount of research can tell you exactly what you need to know except you have access in. Alternatively, if you have a friend or relative working in there, buy that person a drink, ask relevant questions, and I think that will be fine.
But if you are like me presently in Akwa Ibom, and I have an interview scheduled in Lagos, going to Lagos will be too expensive for me; I will just stick it out online.

5. Don't be too honest-as bitter as it is for me to tell you this, that is the blatant truth. If you want to use their organization to gather money to start your own business, why not keep that to your self. If you know you will leave soon after your husband wins a jackpot, can you please hide it. As true as the fact that before you can catch the attention of your interviewer(s) you have to discuss! discuss!! and discuss!!!, saying too much may throw you out. Say what is necessary, and leave the other details for your lover *winks*

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Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by AMZYMAYO(m): 5:40pm On Aug 29, 2015
6. Dress well- Like the popular saying goes:"the way you dress is the way you are address, why not give your Interviewers a first good impression; dress neatly, wear the correct color combination, and, of course, it must be corporate. Here are little tips for men and women:

For Men
*Wear a dark suit. Navy blue and grey are the most acceptable colours. Black can
come across as a bit funereal. And buy a classic cut with a two- or three-button jacket
rather than trying to follow the latest fashion.

*Wear a plain, long-sleeved shirt. Pick a pale colour such as light blue or white.

*Wear a plain silk tie. Patterns can be distracting. Let your words rather than your tie
entertain the interviewers.

*Wear black shoes. Opt for plain lace-ups without fancy buckles. Polish your shoes.
One school of thought amongst interviewers says that unpolished shoes are the sign of
a disorganised mind.

For Women
*Wear a neutral or dark-coloured suit. For interviews with a professional services
firm or a big business, wear a suit as opposed to separates. And think carefully before
opting for a trouser suit, as a few older, male interviewers are still a bit sexist about
women in trousers as opposed to skirts.

*Wear a plain top. Choose an unpatterned blouse or fitted top in a pale colour. Avoid
sleeveless tops and don't go for anything too sexy.

*Keep jewellery to a minimum. Wear only one pair of earrings and a maximum of one
ring on each hand. Avoid thumb rings or too many bangles as they may detract from a
professional appearance

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Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by AMZYMAYO(m): 5:45pm On Aug 29, 2015
7. Know Some Key Information Before the Main Day-
*Know the time, date and location of the interview. You also need to work out the
precise route to get there. If in any doubt as to how long the journey takes, add extra
time. Being late is an unforgivable sin.

*Know the format for the interview. How many interviewers will attend the
interview? Is there just one interview, several interviews or a mixture of interviews
and psychometric tests? If you don't know, find out by ringing up the human resources
department, the recruitment coordinator or perhaps an interviewer's personal assistant.

*Have copies of your CV to hand. Because CVs can go astray, print out a half-dozen
copies of your CV and be prepared to give them to interviewers who may not have a
copy. Carry the copies of your CV in a briefcase or a plain folder.

*Take a newspaper or business magazine. If you arrive more than half an hour before
the interview, find a local cafe rather than sitting in the interviewers’ reception –
being too early can signal over-anxiousness.
Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by AMZYMAYO(m): 5:53pm On Aug 29, 2015
How to Pack for Your Interviews

Pack light. If you show up carrying a lot of physical baggage, your interviewer may assume that you’re also lugging around the emotional kind. But pack thoroughly. You need to be prepared for any contingency.

When you really want to impress a certain interviewer (which is any interviewer that you
happen to meet), here are the ten essentials to pack into your briefcase or handbag:

1. Your cell phone (which will remain OFF during your meeting).
2. Directions to your appointment—including your contact’s name, phone number, address of the office, and floor.
3. A few extra copies of your resume.
4. One pen and one small pad of paper (so that you can jot down notes after your meeting).
5. One roll of breath mints. (Just do it, okay?)
6. One comb.
7. One small mirror (or compact) for last-minute inspections before entering the office building. Nothing wedged between your teeth? Excellent.
8. A bottle of a good deodorant (In case you become sweating severely before the interview commences.
9. One folding umbrella (to avoid arriving wet and wrinkled).
10. One picture ID (so that you can get past securities.

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Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by AMZYMAYO(m): 6:35pm On Aug 29, 2015
Summary of How You Can Win The Interviewer(s) Completely

1. Breathe deeply, and try not to panic. That was easy. Phew!

2. Try to set up your meeting for one full week (five business days) from the time that you first receive the call to come in. Your tendency will be to go for an earlier meeting to “get it over with.” Do not yield to this instinct. You will need the time to prepare for your meeting. (Of course, if the interviewer insists on an earlier date, graciously accept it.)

3. Do your homework. Get on the Internet, and pull every article you can find about the company. Don’t just read the articles; study and dissect them. Start crafting a “master list” of questions of your own about the company, based on the information that you unearth.

4. Go wider and deeper. Look up the company’s website. Obtain past Annual Reports from the organization, and review them as if your life depended on it. Buy trade publications from your field; and brush up on what the company’s competitors have been doing. Be certain to add some of this competitive information to the list of questions that you are preparing to ask in your
interview.

5. Call any contacts that you have from the company, and start gently picking their brains about your upcoming interview. Ask your contacts about initiatives that are taking place in the organization right now; find out about the management structure; figure out where your interviewer is on the internal “totem pole.” If you don’t know anyone in the company, call any contacts you have in competing organizations to learn what they know about the company. Go out for drinks with them at night; treat them to dinner if necessary. Do not ignore this important step!

6. Review the questions and answers on this thread thoroughly. Then, very importantly, change the answers a bit to reflect your own situation. (You never want to come off as “copycat”; rather you will need to be you, at your most charming self.) Add the questions and answers from this thread that you feel you are most likely to be asked to the “master list” of questions that you are creating.

7. Write down your goal. Isn’t that simply to get the job, you ask? Yes, of course if it is, but
phrase your goal in a way that is very specific to the company. “My goal is to land a job as vice president of Customer Relations at MTN, and to make $Bleep,Bleep a year.”
(You will know the perfect salary level based on the research you’ve already done on the
organization.) Studies show that writing down goals helps people achieve them faster. Try it; what do you have to lose?

8. Review your “master list” of questions, answers, company history, and competitive insights every single day until exactly fifteen hours before your interview. Lock yourself in a quiet room in your house or apartment if you have to, and ask yourself the questions (and state the answers) aloud. This simple step, which so many candidates fail to do, can help you memorize your answers in advance. Won’t that sound canned, you wonder? No, it won’t. When you really know your material, you will actually come off as sounding far more “spontaneous” in an interview.

9. Decide, well in advance of your meeting, which outfit you will wear. This is to avoid any
tough decisions at the last minute. Be certain that your outfit is pulled together and appropriate for the job you really want. Also, on the day of, make sure that you have showered, brushed your teeth (lol) , and have clean, well-kempt nails and hair. Carry a roll of breath mints with you just in case.

10. Then fifteen hours before your interview, force yourself to stop studying for it, and try to relax. Do yoga if you enjoy it, or listen to a favorite tune. Lay off the caffeine so that you can get a good night’s sleep.

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Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by Wizzaro2014(m): 7:30pm On Aug 29, 2015
AMZYMAYO:
Summary of How You Can Win The Interviewer(s) Completely

1. Breathe deeply, and try not to panic. That was easy. Phew!

2. Try to set up your meeting for one full week (five business days) from the time that you first receive the call to come in. Your tendency will be to go for an earlier meeting to “get it over with.” Do not yield to this instinct. You will need the time to prepare for your meeting. (Of course, if the interviewer insists on an earlier date, graciously accept it.)

3. Do your homework. Get on the Internet, and pull every article you can find about the company. Don’t just read the articles; study and dissect them. Start crafting a “master list” of questions of your own about the company, based on the information that you unearth.

4. Go wider and deeper. Look up the company’s website. Obtain past Annual Reports from the organization, and review them as if your life depended on it. Buy trade publications from your field; and brush up on what the company’s competitors have been doing. Be certain to add some of this competitive information to the list of questions that you are preparing to ask in your
interview.

5. Call any contacts that you have from the company, and start gently picking their brains about your upcoming interview. Ask your contacts about initiatives that are taking place in the organization right now; find out about the management structure; figure out where your interviewer is on the internal “totem pole.” If you don’t know anyone in the company, call any contacts you have in competing organizations to learn what they know about the company. Go out for drinks with them at night; treat them to dinner if necessary. Do not ignore this important step!

6. Review the questions and answers on this thread thoroughly. Then, very importantly, change the answers a bit to reflect your own situation. (You never want to come off as “copycat”; rather you will need to be you, at your most charming self.) Add the questions and answers from this thread that you feel you are most likely to be asked to the “master list” of questions that you are creating.

7. Write down your goal. Isn’t that simply to get the job, you ask? Yes, of course if it is, but
phrase your goal in a way that is very specific to the company. “My goal is to land a job as vice president of Customer Relations at MTN, and to make $Bleep,Bleep a year.”
(You will know the perfect salary level based on the research you’ve already done on the
organization.) Studies show that writing down goals helps people achieve them faster. Try it; what do you have to lose?

8. Review your “master list” of questions, answers, company history, and competitive insights every single day until exactly fifteen hours before your interview. Lock yourself in a quiet room in your house or apartment if you have to, and ask yourself the questions (and state the answers) aloud. This simple step, which so many candidates fail to do, can help you memorize your answers in advance. Won’t that sound canned, you wonder? No, it won’t. When you really know your material, you will actually come off as sounding far more “spontaneous” in an interview.

9. Decide, well in advance of your meeting, which outfit you will wear. This is to avoid any
tough decisions at the last minute. Be certain that your outfit is pulled together and appropriate for the job you really want. Also, on the day of, make sure that you have showered, brushed your teeth (lol) , and have clean, well-kempt nails and hair. Carry a roll of breath mints with you just in case.

10. Then fifteen hours before your interview, force yourself to stop studying for it, and try to relax. Do yoga if you enjoy it, or listen to a favorite tune. Lay off the caffeine so that you can get a good night’s sleep.
Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by Wizzaro2014(m): 7:31pm On Aug 29, 2015
AMZYMAYO:
Summary of How You Can Win The Interviewer(s) Completely

1. Breathe deeply, and try not to panic. That was easy. Phew!

2. Try to set up your meeting for one full week (five business days) from the time that you first receive the call to come in. Your tendency will be to go for an earlier meeting to “get it over with.” Do not yield to this instinct. You will need the time to prepare for your meeting. (Of course, if the interviewer insists on an earlier date, graciously accept it.) Good one

3. Do your homework. Get on the Internet, and pull every article you can find about the company. Don’t just read the articles; study and dissect them. Start crafting a “master list” of questions of your own about the company, based on the information that you unearth.

4. Go wider and deeper. Look up the company’s website. Obtain past Annual Reports from the organization, and review them as if your life depended on it. Buy trade publications from your field; and brush up on what the company’s competitors have been doing. Be certain to add some of this competitive information to the list of questions that you are preparing to ask in your
interview.

5. Call any contacts that you have from the company, and start gently picking their brains about your upcoming interview. Ask your contacts about initiatives that are taking place in the organization right now; find out about the management structure; figure out where your interviewer is on the internal “totem pole.” If you don’t know anyone in the company, call any contacts you have in competing organizations to learn what they know about the company. Go out for drinks with them at night; treat them to dinner if necessary. Do not ignore this important step!

6. Review the questions and answers on this thread thoroughly. Then, very importantly, change the answers a bit to reflect your own situation. (You never want to come off as “copycat”; rather you will need to be you, at your most charming self.) Add the questions and answers from this thread that you feel you are most likely to be asked to the “master list” of questions that you are creating.

7. Write down your goal. Isn’t that simply to get the job, you ask? Yes, of course if it is, but
phrase your goal in a way that is very specific to the company. “My goal is to land a job as vice president of Customer Relations at MTN, and to make $Bleep,Bleep a year.”
(You will know the perfect salary level based on the research you’ve already done on the
organization.) Studies show that writing down goals helps people achieve them faster. Try it; what do you have to lose?

8. Review your “master list” of questions, answers, company history, and competitive insights every single day until exactly fifteen hours before your interview. Lock yourself in a quiet room in your house or apartment if you have to, and ask yourself the questions (and state the answers) aloud. This simple step, which so many candidates fail to do, can help you memorize your answers in advance. Won’t that sound canned, you wonder? No, it won’t. When you really know your material, you will actually come off as sounding far more “spontaneous” in an interview.

9. Decide, well in advance of your meeting, which outfit you will wear. This is to avoid any
tough decisions at the last minute. Be certain that your outfit is pulled together and appropriate for the job you really want. Also, on the day of, make sure that you have showered, brushed your teeth (lol) , and have clean, well-kempt nails and hair. Carry a roll of breath mints with you just in case.

10. Then fifteen hours before your interview, force yourself to stop studying for it, and try to relax. Do yoga if you enjoy it, or listen to a favorite tune. Lay off the caffeine so that you can get a good night’s sleep.
Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by AMZYMAYO(m): 10:48pm On Aug 31, 2015
THE INTERVIEW PROPER NOW

let us work through the interview step by step. I hope you won't be bored with the whole thing. Are you ready? Let's go there!
Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by AMZYMAYO(m): 10:57pm On Aug 31, 2015
Imagine the scenario: two candidates both say, I'm the right person for the job
because I have good people skills. But imagine one candidate mumbling the words in
a lifeless fashion, avoiding eye contact and fidgeting nervously, while a second
candidate says the words in a dynamic fashion, smiling and looking eye-to-eye at the
interviewers. Who do you think the interviewers are going to give the job to?
Your body language and tone of voice have important roles to play in convincing
the interviewers that you're the best candidate. In this chapter, I talk about ways to
make sure that you grab the attention of the interviewers.

2 Likes

Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by AMZYMAYO(m): 11:34pm On Aug 31, 2015
Part 1-Interview About Yourself
Try as much as possible to follow the CAR acronym in answering your interview question. They are:
*Challenge: What was the problem or opportunity you had to tackle? Set the scene for
the story that you are about to tell – but try to do it in only two or three sentences.

*Actions: What actions did you take to resolve the problem or grasp the opportunity?
This is the bulk of your story. Use the first-person singular (‘I’) rather than the firstperson plural (‘we’) to describe the actions that you took.

*Result: What was the outcome of the actions that you took? Generally, try to choose
examples that describe successful outcomes.


A. Tell me about yourself

This is probably the single most popular question that interviewers use for
opening an interview. But don't take the question as an invitation to recount your entire
life's history. When you hear this question, answer by pretending that they had actually
asked you: Tell me briefly about your professional experience and the relevant
qualities that make you a strong candidate for this job.

Don't make the classic mistake of sharing too much personal information with
your interviewer. I've heard too many candidates start by telling the interviewer where they were born and where they went to school and what they studied there. It's not a
wrong answer as such, but by telling them about your personal history, your
opportunity to sell your experience and relevant skills flies by.

All the interviewer needs is a snapshot – a summary lasting no more than a
minute or 90 seconds – of your background and experience. Be sure to prepare one
before your interview.

Examples are:
*I'm a management consultant with 12 years’ experience gained across industries
and sectors ranging from financial services and retail to petrochemicals and media.
I am responsible for business development activities and last year sold projects
totalling £400,000 to clients. On a day-to-day basis, I also manage a team of up to
eight consultants and junior consultants. But more than being a good consultant, I
like to think of myself as a fair and democratic person as I try hard to listen to my
clients as well as my team.

*I'm currently the floor supervisor at Molly's, which is a busy bar and restaurant in
Brighton. I'm responsible for all aspects of management, ranging from stock taking
and ordering to end-of-day cashing up. I run a team of seven staf and am
responsible for training, hiring and firing. The hours can be quite long, but I enjoy
it and like the mix of activities from dealing with customers to managing the staf .

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Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by Velounie(f): 7:02am On Sep 01, 2015
Those were really helpful.Tnx alot.
Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by AMZYMAYO(m): 8:23am On Sep 01, 2015
Velounie:
Those were really helpful.Tnx alot.
You are welcome
Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by AMZYMAYO(m): 8:28am On Sep 01, 2015
B. What are your strengths?

From your analysis of the job advert, you can work out the
key skills and characteristics that the employer is looking for. Paraphrasing a few of
these back to the employer is an effective way to answer this question.

When paraphrasing key skills and characteristics, make sure to change the
wording slightly – simply repeating them verbatim will make you sound like a
mindless parrot.

A couple of examples:

*As an of ice manager with Global Gadgets, I have excellent organisation skills and
really good attention to detail – I'm not the sort of person who does things by
halves. I also believe that I have good communication skills in dealing with not only
external customers, but also all members of the internal team – from the senior
managers to the junior researchers.

*I've been told that I'm a very good manager. My team tells me that I give them a lot
of freedom in how to do their work, which they really appreciate. They also say that
I'm really enthusiastic, so when we're faced with too much work, they tell me that
my manner really helps to keep them motivated and calm. My boss also tells me that
I'm very innovative in terms of finding new ways of working that cut out
inefficiency.
Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by talk2yommex2000(m): 9:27am On Sep 01, 2015
A very and interesting thread. Very insightful and educating. Kudos to you bro. Hope this (thread) has landed on the promise land (front page)?

Mods shld do d needful.

1 Like 1 Share

Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by AMZYMAYO(m): 2:38pm On Sep 01, 2015
talk2yommex2000:
A very and interesting thread. Very insightful and educating. Kudos to you bro. Hope this (thread) has landed on the promise land (front page)?

Mods shld do d needful.
Thanks for the sweet words.

1 Like

Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by AMZYMAYO(m): 11:59pm On Sep 01, 2015
C. What are your weaknesses?

If the interviewer asks about your strengths, they will almost certainly ask about
your weaknesses too. Being unable to describe any weaknesses suggests to the
interviewer that you lack self-awareness or are a bit egotistical – are you really saying
that you are completely perfect at everything that you do?

Pick a couple of minor weaknesses that are of little relevance to the job. For
example, if the job involves a lot of contact with customers and colleagues, then you
can say that you get bored when you have to spend a lot of time working on your own.
Or if the job offers you a lot of independence and flexibility, you may argue that one of
your weaknesses is that you get very frustrated when you're micro-managed.
When discussing your weaknesses, always talk about how you compensate for
them, too. Describe the actions or steps that you take to ensure that your weaknesses
don't affect your performance at work.

Consider this example of a weakness and how a candidate compensates for it:

My natural tendency is to make up my mind very quickly – and in the past this
has got me into trouble. But I have come to realise that speed is not always
appropriate, so I always remind myself that I may need to collect more information
and weigh up the pros and cons. Nowadays, if I am at all uncertain about a
decision, I will seek input from colleagues.

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Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by AMZYMAYO(m): 12:05am On Sep 02, 2015
D. What motivates you?

Employers are looking for people who are keen to make a difference to their
organisation. So if you aren't terribly motivated by work and the only thing that keeps
you going is the thought of leaving your workplace at the end of the day, keep that to yourself.

One trick is to say that you are motivated when you get to use the kinds of skills
that the employer is looking for. For instance, if the employer requires someone with
customer service skills, then – hey presto – it may be wise to say something along the
lines of:
* I really enjoy spending time with people and get a buzz out of dealing with
customers and sorting out their problems. I hate it when I feel that I'm not doing my
best on behalf of customers. Yes, it sounds a bit cheesy, but if you say it with
sincerity, it can nail you the job.

1 Like

Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by AMZYMAYO(m): 8:24am On Sep 03, 2015
E. What are you passionate about?

This question is just a variant on What motivates you? However, the key to
answering a question about passion is ensuring that your body language demonstrates
not just enthusiasm, but real passion. I remember observing interviews for a job as an
assistant fashion buyer at a large high-street fashion retailer. All the candidates had
fashion degrees and were equally knowledgeable. But the candidate who got the offer
was the one whose eyes and face lit up when she talked about her passion for clothing
and design and fabrics and trends and all things to do with fashion.

If being honest, a lot of people would struggle to find something to be really
passionate about at work. So you may be tempted to talk about a passion outside of
work – perhaps a sporting interest or a community project. But if you do mention an
outside interest, it allows the interviewers to wonder whether you'll be able to bring
all your energies to work. So try to keep your answers within the world of work.
Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by AMZYMAYO(m): 8:31am On Sep 03, 2015
F. What are your biggest achievements?

An interviewer may ask for just one achievement or a handful – so give this
question some thought beforehand. Wherever possible, keep most of your
achievements work-related and focus on the benefits that you achieved for other
people, such as:

*Increased customer or client satisfaction
*Greater revenues or profit
*A bigger slice of market share
*The elimination of inefficiencies or errors
*Cost reduction
*Improved relationship morale within the team or with other stakeholders
*Enhanced reputation of your employer

For example, an IT manager may say:

We were asked by our head of ice in the US to upgrade all of our staff's computers to a new software package. We have over 600 computers across three
locations in the UK, and it was imperative that we handled the migration within the
space of a few days to ensure that there would be no compatibility issues. This was
back in March, which is traditionally a really busy time of year for our company. I
had to attend a lot of meetings with senior managers to persuade them that it was
important. And I had to co-ordinate the efforts of my team to ensure that all of the
computers were upgraded within those few days. It took a lot of planning and hard
work, but I was really proud of the fact that we managed the migration and had
only a few minor problems – and no complaints from the staff.

2 Likes

Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by AMZYMAYO(m): 10:26pm On Sep 04, 2015
G. What are you most proud of?

This is simply a variation of the question What are your achievements? The trap
here is for unwary candidates who may gush about their family or accomplishments
outside of work. While you may be terribly proud of your children or your relationship
or having lost weight or given up smoking, try to use a work-related achievement.

Don't exaggerate your achievements. If you were involved in only a small way
in a much bigger team, then a skilled interviewer may be able to see through you. Rack
your brain and always pick examples where you honestly did make a significant contribution.
Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by AMZYMAYO(m): 10:30pm On Sep 04, 2015
H. What is your greatest failure?

Ooh, this is a nasty question. The interviewer is setting you a big trap to fall into.
The way to fend off this question is by saying that you don't think that you have ever
had a ‘greatest failure’.

However, saying that you've never failed isn't a good enough answer on its own.
So go on to talk about some minor failure that you have experienced – perhaps a
particular project that did not go well or a piece of work that was not up to your usual
high standards.

Try to find an example of a situation that went badly due to unforeseen
circumstances. Never blame anyone else for the failure – as an interviewer can label
you as someone who shirks responsibility and seeks to point the finger at other people.
And try to finish off your anecdote by talking about the lesson you took from it. An example is:

I was part of a team that launched a new skincare product into the UK for my
current French company about 18 months ago. The product itself was great and we
presented it to panels of consumers to try. The consumer panels didn't like the
packaging that we'd put it in and indicated it should be more muted. That went
against my gut feeling, but we responded and gave the consumers what they wanted.
However, when we launched the product for real, sales weren't as good as we would
have liked. So what I learned is that consumers don't always get it right and that I
should trust my gut feeling more in future.

Honesty is a good trait, but too much honesty can be your downfall when
answering this question! If you believe that you have been guilty of a major failure –
even if it was only through bad luck or circumstances – try to play it down.

4 Likes

Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by GoldenJAT(m): 9:54am On Sep 05, 2015
Thanks for the write-up.... This will really go a long way in helping pple like me. GOD BLESS u and more grease 2 ur elbow. Av got a question tho!!!
Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by Panelbeater(m): 10:40am On Sep 05, 2015
If only I had read this article before going for an interveiw yesterday, I would have been resuming at an oil and gas firm on mon as director of opreations with 250k as my first take home pay.*weeps*

Op God bless U for this article, I will read and digest over and over again.

5 Likes

Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by Ask4bigneyo(m): 1:39pm On Sep 05, 2015
Kudos to OP Cc: dragnet
Lalasticlala
Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by AMZYMAYO(m): 4:08pm On Sep 05, 2015
GoldenJAT:
Thanks for the write-up.... This will really go a long way in helping pple like me. GOD BLESS u and more grease 2 ur elbow. Av got a question tho!!!
What is the question sir?
Re: Interview Exposed-Some Of The Things You Need To Know Before & During Interview by AMZYMAYO(m): 4:10pm On Sep 05, 2015
Panelbeater:
If only I had read this article before going for an interveiw yesterday, I would have been resuming at an oil and gas firm on mon as director of opreations with 250k as my first take home pay.*weeps*

Op God bless U for this article, I will read and digest over and over again.
It's not too late

1 Like

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