Job interview help

In what profession are you seeking employment?

Business administration....

How much time do you have before the big day?

The interview isn't until mid September. I have some time, so I want to use it wisely.

I would be happy to meet you somewhere for a mock interview if that would help.

Search "common interview questions" on the google. Make sure you're prepared for "how would you describe yourself?" "how would your friends describe you?" "what are your weaknesses?" and other rediculous questions

In business admin they will also ask "what accomplishment are you most proud of (in your prior position)?" and "what was your biggest challenge?" They will probably ask questions about prior reporting relationships if you will have direct reports.

Having been interviewed a lot, my best general advice is to be as relaxed as possible. It helps to remember that an interview is two-way. They are getting to know you, and you are getting to know them. Try to enjoy it as much as possible, and try to enjoy the interviewer or interviewers as much as possible. They will come away with a good feeling about you. Be present in the moment. Listen to each word, make eye contact. Smile.

Think of a short story (elevator speech) or two that illustrates why you love what you do, and how you came to know that it was the right fit for you. You may not use it, but if you get the chance, it is a great card to play.
It is also helpful to have memorized a short list of particular accomplishments, and a short list of particular responsibilities from your prior position that are related to the job you are seeking.
Don't talk about compensation or benefits in the first interview unless the ask direct questions.
Do not disclose any information that could be construed as a breach of confidentiality. You wouldn't believe how many people share inside information from a prior job when they are talking about their prior position.
Good luck.

You also must be ready for asinine questions like "if you were an animal, which animal would you be?"

Questions like that are the ones that ALWAYS trip me up...

I've Interview scores of people and a lot of it is me figuring out if I want to work with the person for years. A few of the questions I ask (no order) –

Have you ever had difficulty with a supervisor? How did you resolve the conflict?

Do you have any hobbies? What do you do in your spare time?

What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? Why?

What’s the most recent book you’ve read?

What do you not like doing?

Tell me about yourself.

^its none of your business what I do in my spare time, you rent me, not own me.
Your goal in ANY interview is to convince the prospective employer that YOU ADD VALUE to the company...PERIOD

You still have to be prepared for the questions the prospective employer might ask.

(Unless you actually plan to tell them what you said above if you get asked a similar question in an interview?)

Yeah, some of those questions seem silly.

But, speaking as an employer with multiple people reporting to me, I can say that their goal in an interview is not simply to convince me that they add value, but also convince me that there experience is appropriate, that there personality will compliment the rest of the workplace, that they are responsible and tactful, that they are ethical, and that they will represent my organization in a way that I would like them to.
We don't rent people. We employ them to do a specific job in a way that we would like it to be done. Personality matters.
Meanwhile, here is what we MAY NOT ask:
How old are you?
What is your date of birth?
When did you graduate?
Have you ever been arrested?
Have you ever been charged with a crime?
Do you have children?
Where were you born?
Of what country are you a citizen?
To which social organizations, clubs, lodges, or societies do you belong?
Have you ever filed for workers compensation?
Do you own your own home/car?
Have you ever filed for bankruptcy?
How tall are you?
Marital status?
Are you a veteran?
Have you ever changed your name?
Do you rent or own your home?
How many people live with you?
How much do you weigh?
Do you have children?
Are you male or female?
What religion are you?
Do you smoke?
Member of a union?

Considering what we may not ask, you can probably imagine how important the seemingly impertintent questions really can be, as they may inspire the candidate to disclose things that you may not ask.

BTW... if anybody ever responded to me that a carefully selected and strategically relevant question was none of my business, the interview would be over.

there/their... dam.

Your goal in ANY interview is to convince the prospective employer that YOU ADD VALUE to the company...PERIOD

As a guy doing the hiring I may have a choice between a couple of candidates- personally and hobbies matter. I may have to work with that person for years. You don’t have to answer the questions, but you better have some answers. You can say “none of your business, you’re only renting me” isn’t the best answer.

Justread, I'm surprised that you can't ask whether someone has been arrested or gone bankrupt. I can’t remember the last employer who didn’t do a criminal check, drug test and credit report.

Have you ever been arrested?
Have you ever been charged with a crime?

I'm a little surprised that a prospective employer is forbidden to ask about your criminal history.

I've had some experience with job interviews on both sides of the desk. If I'm sure a candidate is qualified to do the job, the important questions deal with social skills. Hence the question about spare time, hobbies, etc. Anyone who is deliberately evasive or refuses to answer fails the first interview.

The few questions that I've learned to ask (generally at the end of the interview) are:
What will my typical day be like?
What will be expected of me?
Who would I report to - who is my immediate supervisor?
Is there a dress code?
What would my regular hours be?
What are the physical conditions like?

That last one is real, real important. If you ask that and get a vague answer, ask the employer if you would have your own office, your own cube or something else. Listen carefully to what they say, because it matters. If the employer is evasive, that means that you're looking at a sweat shop - without air conditioning.

Also, don't try to BS an employer. If you don't know the answer, just say that you don't know. You might add that you're a quick study or that you could certainly learn, but do not try to talk about something you know nothing about. The employer will respect you for your honesty and you'll likely get bumped up ahead of someone whose knowledge on the same subject is marginal.

Good luck to you.

Perhaps that's why they don't ask in the interview?

If it's being addressed by HR on the application and in background checks, they may not want the interviewer addressing it in the discussion?

Exactly mom. You can make it a requirement of the position, but you can't ask it at the interview. Once offered the position, contingent on passing the required checks, the prospective employer will sign a form granting permission for the check.

I was always told in my HR classes in college the best question you can ask in an interview is "can you please tell me what you like best working for XXX company'

justread (and others): I got a chuckle out of the list of questions you can't ask legally.....

....because the answers to most (if not all) of those questions are usually found on someone's Facebook page. Freely given and open to all who have an account...especially HR folks who do due diligence.

Oh yeah...scrub your Facebook page BEFORE the interview. ASAP.

ajm00733: I would LOVE to tell someone what I liked best working for a "XXX" company....

:)

I know. It is pretty funny. I actually had someone with a myspace page once whose mood was "insubordinate" and posted often that they were not going to work (the next day) because they were not in the mood.

^ lol - maybe I would have said ABC Company :)

What does someone do if they have bad credit? I know it might show a lack of responsibility, but in this economy, it's almost the norm to have some delinquencies. Just curious if employers are more understanding or forgiving nowadays. Thoughts?