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Common Interview Questions |
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| First
Impressions |
| The first
impression you make on the interviewer can decide the rest of
the interview. It is important that you introduce yourself,
shake hands, and be friendly and polite. The first question is
often a "breaking the ice" (establish a rapport) type of
question. |
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Don't be
surprised if the interviewer asks you something like:
• How are you today?
• Did you have any trouble finding us?
• Isn't this great weather we're having? |
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This type of question is common because the interviewer wants to
put you at ease (help you relax). The best way to respond is in
a short, friendly manner without going into too much detail.
Here is some examples of correct responses:
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Interviewer: How are you today?
You: I'm fine, thank you. And you?
Interviewer: Did you have any trouble finding us?
You: No, the office isn't too difficult to find.
Interviewer: Isn't this great weather we're having?
You: Yes, it's wonderful. I love this time of year.
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Here are some examples of
incorrect responses:
How are you today?
So, so. I'm rather nervous actually.
Did you have any trouble finding us?
As a matter of fact it was very difficult. I missed the exit and
had to return via the highway. I was afraid I was going to be
late for the interview.
Isn't this
great weather we're having?
Yes, it's wonderful. I can remember this time last year. Wasn't
it awful! I thought it would never stop raining!
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Getting Down to Business |
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| Once the
pleasant beginnings have finished, it's time to begin the real
interview. Here are a number of the most common questions that
are asked during the interview. There are two examples of
excellent replies given for each question. Following the
examples, you will find a comment describing the type of
question and important things to remember when answering that
type of question. |
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Interviewer: Tell me about yourself. |
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Candidate: I was born and raised
in Moscow, Russia. I attended the MGIMO University of Moscow and
received my master's degree in God-knows-what. I have worked for
12 years as a financial consultant in Moscow for various
companies including Gazprom and RnK. I enjoy playing tennis in
my free time and learning languages. |
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Candidate: I've just graduated
from the University of Singapore with a degree in Computers.
During the summers, I worked as a systems administrator for a
small company to help pay for my education. |
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Remember:
work experience is more important than
education in most English speaking countries. |
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Interviewer: What type of position are you looking for? |
Candidate: I'm interested in an
entry level (beginning) position.
Candidate: I'm looking for a position in which I can utilize my
experience.
Candidate: I would like any position for which I qualify. |
| Comment:
You should be willing to take an entry level position in an
English speaking company as most of these companies expect
non-nationals to begin with such a position. In the United
States, most companies provide many opportunities for growth, so
don't be afraid to start from the beginning! |
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Interviewer: Are you interested in a full-time or part-time
position? |
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Candidate: I am more interested in
a full-time position. However, I would also consider a part-time
position. |
| Comment:
Make sure to leave open as many possibilities as possible. Say
you are willing to take any job, once the job has been offered
you can always refuse if the job does not appeal to you.
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Interviewer: Can you tell me about your responsibilities at your
last job? |
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Candidate: I advised customers on
financial matters. After I consulted the customer, I completed a
customer inquiry form and catalogued the information in our
database. I then collaborated with colleagues to prepare the
best possible package for the client. The clients were then
presented with a summarized report on their financial activities
that I formulated on a quarterly basis. |
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Interviewer: What is your greatest strength? |
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Candidate: I work well under
pressure. When there is a deadline, I can focus on the task at
hand and structure my work schedule well. I remember one week
when I had to get 6 new customers report out by Friday at 5. I
finished all the reports ahead of time without having to work
overtime. |
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Candidate: I am an excellent
communicator. People trust me and come to me for advice. One
afternoon, my colleague was involved with a troublesome customer
who felt he was not being served well. I made the customer a cup
of coffee and invited both my colleague and the client to my
desk where we solved the problem together. |
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Candidate: I am a trouble shooter.
When there was a problem at my last job, the manager would
always ask me to solve it. Last summer, the LAN server at work
crashed. The manager was desperate and called me in to get
the LAN back online. After taking a look at the daily backup, I
detected the problem and the LAN was up and running within the
hour. |
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Interviewer: What is your greatest weakness? |
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Candidate: I work too hard and
become nervous when my co-workers are not doing their job.
However, I am aware of this problem, and before I say anything
to anyone, I ask myself why the colleague is having
difficulties. |
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Candidate: I tend to spend too
much time making sure the customer is satisfied. However, I
began setting time-limits for myself If I noticed this
happening. |
| Comment:
This is a difficult question. You need to mention a weakness
that is actually a strength. Make sure that you always mention
how you try to improve the weakness. |
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Interviewer: Why do you want to work for Smith and Sons? |
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Candidate: After following your
firm progress for the last 3 years, I am convinced that Smith
and Sons are becoming one of the market leaders and I would like
to be part of the team. |
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Candidate: I am impressed by the
quality of your products. I am sure that I would be a convincing
salesman because I truly believe that the Atomizer is the best
product on the market today. |
| Comment:
Prepare yourself for this question by becoming informed about
the company. The more detail you can give, the better you show
the interviewer that you understand the company.
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Interviewer: When can you begin? |
Candidate: Immediately.
Candidate: As soon as you would like me to begin. |
| Comment:
Show your willingness to work! |
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| Remember:
Don't worry about making mistakes in English. It is much better
to make simple grammar mistakes and provide detailed information
about your experience than to say grammatically perfect
sentences without any real content. |