INTERVIEWING

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INTERVIEWING

• Taken from Teaching You Job Interview Skills. 
  The Interview Survival Guide for all Job
  Hunters.  Focus Essentials.

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INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Content
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INTERVIEW QUESTION 1
Well, thank you very much for coming in to see us
today. How was the journey getting here? Did
you find us alright?

• This is an ice breaker question.
• Intended to get the interview off to a good
  start.
• To build up a rapport.
• First impressions.

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INTERVIEW QUESTION 1

• WHAT NOT TO SAY
• Dont moan about the traffic. You dont what to
  get off to a negative start.
• Dont complain about the map directions.
• Employers dont like employees who complain and
  moan.

• WHAT SHOULD YOU SAY
• Use the question to show that you are well
  organised and efficient person.
• Thank you for inviting me to the interview. No I
  didnt have any problems getting here. The
  directions were clear and I planned the journey
  carefully to miss traffic. Last week I did a
  trail run to make sure I wouldnt be late.

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INTERVIEW QUESTION 2
Ok, so tell me a bit about yourself?

• This question is used to build up a picture of
  you.
• Will identify what you are capable of doing.

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INTERVIEW QUESTION 2

• WHAT NOT TO SAY
• Dont mention your faults.
• Negative comments.
• Dont go into detail about personal life.
  Height, weight etc.
• Dont talk for toooooo long.

• WHAT SHOULD YOU SAY
• I am hard working, determined and enthusiastic
  during work time and also outside of work.
• I am well organised and plan my working day as
  well as my future jobs so that they dont get
  over looked.
• I take a great deal of pride in my work and like
  doing the best I can.

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INTERVIEW QUESTION 3
To sum up, what are your strengths and weaknesses?

• Classic interview question.
• Highlight your key skills and achievements.
• If you know your weaknesses and if you are
  working on them
• Dont mention too many weaknesses.

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INTERVIEW QUESTION 3

• WHAT NOT TO SAY
• Concentrate on your strengths and not on your
  weaknesses.
• Dont give a list of weaknesses, the interviewer
  wont feel sorry for you.
• Dont give a list of health problems.

• WHAT SHOULD YOU SAY
• I am hard working, loyal and determined.
• As for weaknesses, I hard worked hard in the past
  to deal with anything that has caused me to have
  minor problems.
• I've always taken advice from managers in
  appraisals to improve my work performance.

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INTERVIEW QUESTION 4
Give me a run down of your career up to now?

• How your past jobs relate to this application.
  
• To see what you are interested in.

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INTERVIEW QUESTION 4

• WHAT NOT TO SAY
• Dont ramble on about old jobs.
• Dont reel off a list of past jobs.
• Dont mention if you hated the job and how you
  didnt get on well with any one.

• WHAT SHOULD YOU SAY
• Discuss the jobs you have had and how you have
  developed and benefited form each job role.
• If you have just started your career, highlight
  part time jobs and experiences that you have
  gained from those jobs.

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INTERVIEW QUESTION 5
So what would you say have been your main
achievements and failures in your career?

• What will you be able to do for the company?
• Focus on your achievements.

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INTERVIEW QUESTION 5

• WHAT NOT TO SAY
• That you haven't had any achievements..
• Dont give a list of lots of times you have
  failed.
• Dont make up achievements.

• WHAT SHOULD YOU SAY
• Make sure you can back any achievement up.
• Employers like people who can
• can organise things,
• save them money,
• increase sales,
• provide a better service.