Shannie

The Stress Interview Questions

Your worst nightmare can come true at a stress interview, but once you learn that these questions are just amplified versions of much simpler ones, you'll remain cool and calm.
• Would you like to have your boss's job?
• Why should I hire an outsider when I could fill the job with someone inside the company?
• Why were you out of work for so long?

Would you like to have your boss's job?
It is a rare boss who wants his or her livelihood taken away. On my own very first job interview, my future boss said, "Mr. Yate, it has been a pleasure to meet you. However, until you walked in my door, I wasn't out on the street looking for a new job." The interviewer wants to know if you are the type of person who will be confrontational, challenging, undermining, or too ambitious or arrogant. He also seeks to determine how goal-oriented and motivated you are in your work life, so you may also want to comment on your sense of direction. But remember that while ambition is admired, it is admired most by the ambitious.
Be cautiously optimistic; perhaps, "Well, if my boss were promoted over the coming years, I would hope to have made a consistent enough contribution to warrant his recommendation. It is not that I am looking to take anyone's job; rather, I am looking for a manager who will help me develop my capabilities and grow with him."

Why should I hire an outsider when I could fill the job with someone inside the company?
The question isn't as stupid as it sounds. Obviously, the interviewer has examined existing employees with an eye toward their promotion or reassignment. Just as obviously, the job cannot be filled from within the company. If it could be, it would be, and for two very good reasons: It is cheaper for the company to promote from within, and it is good for employee morale. Hiding behind this intimidating question is actually a pleasant invitation: "Tell me why I should hire you." Your answer should include two steps. The first is a simple recitation of your skills and personality profile strengths, tailored to the specific requirements of the job.
For the second step, realize first that whenever a manager is filling a position, he or she is looking not only for someone who can do the job but also for someone who can benefit the department in a larger sense. No department is as good as it could be--each has weaknesses that need strengthening.
So in the second part of your answer, include a question of your own: "Those are my general attributes. However, if no one is promote able from inside the company, which means you are looking to add strength to your team in a special way. In what ways do you hope the final candidate will be able to benefit our department?" The answer to this is your cue to sell your applicable qualities.

Why were you out of work for so long?
You must have a sound explanation for any and all gaps in your employment history. If not, you are unlikely to receive a job offer. Emphasize that you were not just looking for another paycheck--you were looking for a company with which to settle and to which to make a long-term contribution. "I made a decision that I enjoy my work too much just to accept another paycheck. So I determined that the next job I took would be one where I could settle down and do my best to make a solid contribution. From everything I have heard about this company, you are a group that expects people to pull their weight, because you've got a real job to do. I like that, and I would like to be a part of the team. What have I got to do to get the job?"
You answer the question, compliment the interviewer, and shift the emphasis from you being unemployed to how you can get the job offer.

13) Be Prepared to Ask Questions
Toward the end of the interview the employer will usually ask if you have any questions. You should be prepared to ask one or two questions; if you do not, he/she may think you are ill prepared or not interested in the company. Use this opportunity to ask questions that subtly demonstrate your knowledge of the firm and the industry, and to underscore your interest in seeking a long-term career position at that company. At the same time, you should not allow your questions to become an interrogation. Two or three thoughtful questions are usually sufficient.

What questions should you ask? Here are some examples:

"What is the next position or positions that this job typically leads to?"

"Assuming I was hired and performed well as a (the position you are applying for) for a number of years, what possible opportunities might this lead to?"

These questions imply that you are an achievement-oriented individual looking for a company where you can build a long-term career.

"I have noticed in the trade press that your firm has a terrific reputation in marketing. What are the major insights into the marketing process that I might gain from this position?"

"I understand that your company is the market leader in industrial drill bits in North America. I am curious to know how much of the product line is sold overseas."

These questions imply that you are very interested in a long-term career in this industry and that you might lean toward taking a career with this firm because of its solid reputation. Your well-timed and appropriate questions are sure to impress even the toughest interviewer.

"What skills are considered most useful for success in the job I am applying for?"

This question implies you really care about your success at your first job and also provides important information for further interviews--or your follow-up after this interview.

"I would really like to work for your firm. I think it's a great company and I am confident I could do this job well. What is the next step of the selection process

More than a question, this is a powerful statement that will quickly set you apart from other job hunters. However, you should only make this statement if you mean it. If you are offered the position but then say you need two weeks to think it over, you will lose your credibility. Even so, it is reasonable to ask for 24 or 48 hours to "digest the details."

Be sure to save your questions about salary, benefits, and related issues for later, after you receive an offer. You will still be free to negotiate--or to decline the position--at that point. Also, avoid asking any questions that will be difficult or awkward for the interviewer to answer. This is not the time to ask, for example, "Does your company use recycled paper for all of its advertising brochures?"


14)The Ten Most Common Mistakes
An interview is your opportunity to strut your stuff and also to learn about the company and their people. The most important ingredients to a successful interview are proper preparation and good listening skills.

Here are 10 things to avoid while preparing for your interview. You can either scroll down the page or click the different topics located below to read each question and get valuable advice.
• Lack of Preparation
• Arriving Late
• Improper Appearance
• Lack of Confidence
• Poor Attitude
• The Wrong Pitch
• Inconsistency
• Failing to Listen
• Losing Your Cool
• Blowing the Negotiation

Lack of Preparation
Once the interview is scheduled, do your best to get ready for it. Find out as much as you can about the interviewer(s): bone up on the company, their business, and the position for which you're interviewing. Prepare for the questions they're likely to ask you, as well as the questions you would like to ask them. Formulate an objective, e.g., getting a job offer and learning enough about the company and their people to enable you to decide whether you want to work there.

Arriving Late
On the day of the interview, leave enough margin of error to avoid any possibility of being late. No one will remember your excuse for being late, only that you were late. If you are unavoidably late, offer a sincere apology just once, and then let it drop.

Improper Appearance
Every large company has its culture. This is likely to include a dress and grooming code and standards. The appropriate attire and grooming (e.g., length of hair, and use of cosmetics and jewelry) is generally what you see around you. If you're in doubt as to what to wear on your interview, pay an anonymous visit to their facility during lunchtime and take a look.

If you expect the interview to last several hours, plan to wear clothing that will look neat all day. Bring a comb and whatever other "equipment" you may need to maintain a neat and tidy appearance. If it's raining, protect your outfit with reliable rain gear. Do not, under any circumstances, allow yourself to appear disheveled.

Lack of Confidence
Are you confident of your ability to meet responsibilities entrusted to you? Would you hire someone like you? If not, then you need to learn to appear as competent and confident as you would like to be (and want others to believe you are). Of course, feeling confident doesn't automatically make you competent, but it does create an atmosphere that is conducive to success.

Poor Attitude
The best way to approach an interview is with enthusiasm and an open mind. Treat everyone you meet with courtesy. If you decide during the interview that you don't want the job, or that you may not be sufficiently experienced or qualified to receive the offer, chalk it up to experience.
Continue to present yourself in an upbeat and professional manner. If they're giving you the courtesy of their time and consideration, the least you can do is to respond in kind. Practice manifesting a positive attitude--it's a good habit to develop and maintain.