Jaguar Land Rover interview questions (Phone interview).

- What are the qualities of a good leader?

- How well did your college experience prepare you for this job?
- What are three positive character traits you don't have?
- Do you prefer to work in a small, medium or large company?
- Tell me about an important issue you encountered recently.

Jaguar Land Rover interview questions (Basic interview).

- Have you ever had to deal with conflicting deadlines?
- Do you know anyone who works with our company?
- Are you planning to continue your studies?
- Do you work well under pressure?
- Do you think you are overqualified for this position?

Jaguar Land Rover interview questions (Competency Based job interview).

- What techniques and tools do you use to keep yourself organized?
- How would you describe the experience of working here?
- How do you feel about taking no for an answer?
- What are your expectations regarding promotions and salary increases?
- How do you react to instruction and criticism?

The most important tip is that you have get yourself prepared carefully before the behavioral
interview.
Provide truthful answers to Jaguar Land Rover interview questions and exude confidence when
speaking. Be sure to discuss a very specific example.

Jaguar Land Rover interview questions (Video interview)

- Where do you see yourself in five years time?
- Situation in which you had to arrive at a compromise.
- What would you say are your strong points?
- Give me an example that best describes your organizational skills.
- What negative thing would your last boss say about you?

Try to avoid specific classifications, whatever it may be. Show that you are willing to take on
the necessary job functions. Don't get trivial or negative answering Jaguar Land Rover interview
questions.

Jaguar Land Rover interview questions (Situational interview).

- What do you think you can bring to this position?
- How do you think you can make a contribution to this company?
- What quality of yours or personal trait matters the most in your career?
- Which subjects did you enjoy during your qualifying degree?
- What attracted you to this company?

Jaguar Land Rover interview questions (Communication skills)

- What do you think this position involves.
- Do you have the qualities and skills necessary to succeed in your career?
- What's most important to you in a new position?
- What type of work environment do you prefer?
- What support training would you require to be able to do this job?

Jaguar Land Rover interview questions (about Strengths and Weaknesses)

- How do you see your job relating to the overall goals?
- What has been your most successful experience in speech making?
- What would be your ideal working environment?
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- Tell me about a time when you successfully handled a situation?
- Time when you made a suggestion to improve the work.

The most important thing you should do is make sure to relate your answer to your long-term
career goals.
Your answer will affect the rest of the interview. If interviewing for a professional-level position,
be ready to answer questions about standards within the industry.

Jaguar Land Rover interview questions (Behavioral interview).

- What do you like and dislike about the job we are discussing?
- Tell me about how you worked effectively under pressure.
- What kind of events cause you stress on the job?
- Give me an example of a high-pressure situation?
- What kinds of situations do you find most stressful?

Describe your weaknesses as strengths. Your answer should be focused on what you can bring
to the role that will be of benefit to the company.
If you can come up with an example that relates to the position you're applying for that would
be even better.

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How to Answer Job Interview Questions?
Why do you want this job?
A poor answer to this important interview question can stop you getting the job you want.

Many job applicants answer the question very poorly and make a common
mistake with the focus of their reply.
A poor answer to this important interview question can stop you getting the job
you want.

You probably have personal reasons why you want this job, such as you're out
of work, you need money, it's a short commute or the company offers good
health insurance.

You may also have professional reasons why you want this job. Perhaps this job
right for your career, the company has a good reputation or the job uses your
skills and offers you the chance to grow.

But Don't talk about You! - Sharing your personal reasons will not help you get
hired. The hiring manager doesn't care about your personal reasons.

Remember, every interview question you are asked is an opportunity for you to
communicate something positive about you and what you can do for the
company.

The interviewer is probing to see:

- If you fully understand what the job entails
- How well you might match requirements
- What appeals to you most about the job

Again, your personal reasons will not advance your candidacy unless they are
tied directly to your ability to bring value to the company.

Bad Answers:
- I like your salary and benefits package.
- This job in such a stable company offers long-term career development and
this is what I am looking for.
- I see this company not only as a positive work environment, but also as a
good career opportunity.
- I would like to gain experience in this line of work.
- At this stage of my career I feel I should have knowledge/experience in this
position.
- I believe that this job will help me assume another level of responsibility in my
career.
Wrong !!!

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Your emphasis should be on demonstrating to the interviewer precisely how
you match their requirements - and, in doing so, to demonstrate that you fully
understand what the role entails.

Your answer should be focused on what you can bring to the role that will be of
benefit to the company.

Can you work under pressure?

When asked this question in interview, remember that the employer is looking to uncover your
skills...

Work and pressure are always going to co-exist.

It might be the pressure at work or on personal front but you should be able to
deal with it.

In most cases, the best answer to this question is answering yes. Working well
under pressure is a good trait to have.

Pressure exists in almost any profession and job, so it makes no sense to say
something that you might not follow through in your day to day life in the
company.

To work effectively under pressure you must remain calm and composed within
demanding situations and focus on getting the job done to the best of your
ability.

Actually, this question often comes from an unskilled interviewer, because it is

closed-ended, meaning it does not give you the chance to elaborate.

Sure, it may seem like a pretty straight-forward interview question but the
reality is your answer has to be very compelling, with some good evidence of
how and why you can work well under pressure.

On average about eight in ten raises their hands. They work better when the
pressure's on. When there's a deadline to meet.

Nobody is going to answer 'no' to this. You could ask how much pressure the
job involves.
So they are looking for something else - which is not whether or not you can
work under pressure, but how you behave under pressure.

When asked this question in interview, remember that the employer is looking
to uncover your skills in a diverse range of fields including problem solving,
decision making, organizational skills, time management and your ability to
work under stress.

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Don't just give a yes or no answer; elaborate. Explain why.
It can be tempting to give a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer to this one, but this
reveals nothing and you will lose the opportunity to sell your skills and values.

As always, have a carefully chosen example to highlight your adeptness at

working in such an environment, being sure to convey your ability to work
calmly and efficiently whilst achieving results.

Do show that, no matter the job, you can handle the pressure as required.
Displaying a bit of steel is often no bad thing.

You should state it very clearly that you are comfortable working under
pressure and that is the same thing that you have been doing in the previous
company too.

What can you contribute to our company?

This is a personal question for you. A typical interview question to discover how hiring you
would...

This is a personal question for you. A typical interview question to discover how
hiring you would benefit the company.

Don't search for an answers in any browser.... just say what you feel and make
it sincere. Tell them what you can do to help the company. You should answer
with whatever the company is.

Note:

Hiring managers are out to fulfill one goal - to find someone who can help them
meet business goals.

The best way to answer questions about your contributions to the company is
to give examples of what you have accomplished in the past, and to relate
them to what you can achieve in the future.

A strong answer will sell you for the job, and a weak answer will get you
crossed off the short list of candidates.

Most of the time, when an interviewer asks about what you can offer the
company, they would want some concise and logical answers.

The best thing to do in a job interview is walk and talk as if you already have
the job.

Also, relate your abilities to the employer's goals.

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You want to be thinking about what they've asked for in the job description.
You should have already connected your skill sets to what they're asking for in
this role.

You've got to demonstrate your value. The interviewer knows what job you
perform - but how is it of benefit to your colleagues and to your employer?

They're already looking at candidates who meet their requirements.

It is recommended that you read the job description carefully before the job
interview in order to determine what the needs for the job in question are.

Remember the knowledge, experience, abilities, and skills you possess.

Give examples of that you have done in other roles in the past and try to
explain how you could use those skills in the future in their company.

Tell me about yourself

Your answer will affect the rest of the interview and can make or break the interviewer's
interest in you.

Your answer will affect the rest of the interview and can make or break the
interviewer's interest in you.

Don't answer that you think - answer that interviewer want!

1. Single most important strategy in job hunting - You want to be selling what
the buyer is buying: the key to all successful interviewing is to match your
qualifications to what the interviewer is looking for.

2. You have only 2-3 minutes to give much information that you can do this
job, eliminate irrelevant and other unnecessary information.

3. You should talk only about some of your career accomplishments and
hobbies that are related to the job you are applying for.

3. Start with the present and tell why you are well qualified for the position.
Instead of giving a chronological life history, focus only on your strengths and
how they pertain to the role.

4. Connect your ability to the employer's requirements: never assume that the
employer will by himself be able to connect all of your abilities to the job
requirements.

Never answer this question by squirming uncomfortably, declaring that you

don't like talking about yourself.
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Bad Answer:

My name is... I grew up in... I graduated four years ago from the..., with a
bachelor's in... Upon graduating high school, I went to Los Angeles for 5
years... I've worked in a variety of job...

Stay focused on the connected dots that tell the story of your career.

The interviewer won't say so directly, but she's asking about your professional
life only, not your personal life.

You can better use this question by telling the interviewer some specific
personal attributes which are not listed in your resume or things which you are
good at and want the interviewer to probe more about.

Why do you want to work here?

This question tests whether you've done any homework about the company. If you haven't, you
lose.

Researching the company and industry before your interview will make you
stand out as a more informed and competent applicant.

This question tests whether you've done any homework about the company. If
you haven't, you lose. If you have, you win big.

Let the interviewer know you are being selective about where you want to work
and you're not just going to take any job offered to you.

Again, your personal reasons will not advance your candidacy unless they are
tied directly to your ability to bring value to the company.

1. Talk about: The employer's good reputation, their product or service quality,
business successes, corporate mission, community involvement, growth, or
unique qualities.

2. Don't talk about: The short commute, the fact that you really need the
benefits, that you're hoping to learn the skills to start your own business, or
that you're desperate for any job.

The interviewer is looking for an answer that indicates you've thought about
where you want to work, that you're not just sending your resume to any
company with a job opening.

Bad Answer:
You pay well and look after your employees. I like your salary and benefits
package. You're a large company, which means that my prospects for career
Página 7 de 27
enhancement would be increased and hopefully. I wouldn't be doing the same
kind of work all the time.

The interviewer want to know how much you know about the business, and
whether you truly understand and want this job at this company, your
motivations for joining the company.

Your answer should reflect that you have thought about what you want and
have researched the company.

Best sources for researching your target company: annual reports, the
corporate newsletter, contacts you know at the company or its suppliers,
advertisements, articles about the company in the trade press.

Think of at least two reasons this job is a good match for your skills, strengths,
experience and background. What can you bring to the company?

Demonstrate how you can contribute to the company's goals and how your
skills and experience match their requirements. Use concrete examples as if you
were already working there.
.

What salary are you looking for?

A loaded question. Most HR managers use the salary expectations question as a screening
tactic.

Most HR managers use the salary expectations question as a screening tactic.

A loaded question. A nasty little game that you will probably lose if you answer
first.

The person who gives the first number sets the starting point. But if that's you,
you lose.

If you request a salary higher than the range for the job, the interviewer will
tell you you're high, and you've just lost money. If you request a salary lower
than the range, the interviewer will say nothing, and you've just lost money.

You want as much as possible, the employer wants you for as little as you're
willing to take.

The right answer to the question is almost always some version of 'I'm not
telling you.'

Never bring up salary. Let the interviewer do it first.

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Good salespeople sell their products thoroughly before talking price. So should
you. Make the interviewer want you first, and your bargaining position will be
much stronger.

In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard, will tell you. If not, say that it
can depend on the details of the job.

However, if the interviewer persists and asks you a second time, you may need
to give them a rough idea, but without pricing yourself out of the market.

You should have a clear idea of what the job may pay and what you are worth
in your professional field.

Just as every job you interview for has an approved salary range, you should
never go to a job interview without your own predetermined range.

The best way is to state a salary range - Not one specific number!
'I would like something around 50,000 - 55,000.'

Don't name a range if you'd be unhappy with the lowest end of it. If you give a
wide range like '$40,000 - $55,000' don't be surprised if you're offered $40,000,
because that's what you told the employer you'd accept willingly.

So choose your range carefully, realizing that the employer may only focus on
the lower end of it. (Similarly, many employers resist giving out their own
ranges because so many candidates only hear the highest end.)

Aren't you overqualified for this job?

Employers don't like to hire overqualified people because they won't stay around long. You may
have the best reasons...

Hiring managers look at your stellar experience and wonder whether they will
have to replace you as soon as another company makes you an offer.

Note!

Employers don't like to hire overqualified people because they won't stay
around long. But since it is probably obvious that you're overqualified, admit
that you are, but also emphasis the positive.

You may have the best reasons in the world - and many people have - but an
employer will think that you have such low self-esteem and personal value that
you move down your career-ladder rather than going up.

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No matter your previous job experience or educational background, be sure to
tell the interviewer you have the knowledge and skills to successfully execute
the job responsibilities.

Being overqualified simply means that you are just too good for the job you are
applying for. It means that you have received a lot of education and you also
have a huge amount of previous work experience related to the job you are
applying for.

If your qualifications and past experience give the idea that you are
overqualified for the job, it would be a good idea to accept that it is - you can
give reasons as to why you are applying for a job that does not take full use of
your qualifications.

So if you hear 'you may be overqualified', at some point in the process, you
need to convince recruiters, HR staff and hiring manager how your situation will
benefit them!

Being overqualified doesn't make you unemployable.

Use your experience, passion and proven track record to build a vision of how
you could benefit your potential employer, and make sure to share that vision
with them.

What are your biggest strengths?

This greatest strength question is one where you can often hit a home run if you just prepare a
bit ahead of time.

Interviewers have a good idea of your skills and attributes from your CV but
they want to get a different perspective on you.

This greatest strength question is one where you can often hit a home run if
you just prepare a bit ahead of time.

Think about what your new employer would find most interesting about you -
and most important to the job you are applying for.

There's no absolute right answer. Basically they just want to see if you know
yourself and how well you express yourself.

This question is basically a prompt for you to brag and 'sell' yourself as the best
fit for the job.

With this question, the interviewer seeks to find out if:

- Your strengths align with the company's needs;
- You can do the job and perform like a rock star;
Página 10 de 27
- You are the best person for the job - no need to hold out for someone better;
- You have qualities, skills and/or experience that set you apart from the
competition;
- You are someone who will make an excellent addition to the team.

You should have a list mentally prepared of your greatest strengths.

You should also have, a specific example or two, which illustrates each
strength, an example chosen from your most recent and most impressive
achievements.

Read the job description carefully and write down the skills, abilities, traits for
the position you are applying for.

Just remember that the person conducting the interview will also want to know
how you have applied those strengths to benefit your employer, so you will
want to think of examples before hand.

Do you recognize equivalents between your strengths and the skills required for
position? If you do, mark these strengths.

You must have a really good story to tell about how you use that strength to
make something good happen for your former employer or - if this is your first
job - at school or in a volunteer role.

The most important thing you can do when sharing your strengths with the
interviewer is to give an example that illustrates what you are saying.

You want to paint a picture that will resonate in their mind so they can visualize
you doing the job.

What are you looking for in a job?

When asked this question, most people are afraid to answer in a way that makes them appear
motivated...

Even people with excellent qualifications and impressive work experience

sometimes struggle to articulate what they are looking for in their next job.

Be genuine and honest - connect your actual personal preferences to the

context of the company.

Demonstrate your interest in the job features.

Página 11 de 27
If you add a few professional details, the interviewer will be pleased to note
that you have done some research.
They will feel that you are motivated and interested in the job.

Your answer must draw at least some correlation to the job you are seeking, as
otherwise employers will conclude that you will ultimately be dissatisfied in your
post and seek new pastures.

When asked the question what are you looking for in a job, most people are
afraid to answer in a way that makes them appear motivated by salary or
prestige.

That is understandable - a job seeker should never appear greedy.

Don't mention anything about salary range which reflects your cheap mentality
for this question.

Tell the interviewer that you want a job where hard work is rewarded, and
additional responsibility is available to those who earn it.

If you know what you don't want in a job or why you left your previous job, you
can incorporate it into what you want in a new job.

You want your answers to be relevant to the position you are seeking!

What is your greatest weakness?

This is an eliminator question, designed to shorten the candidate list. It is one of the most
dreaded questions...

Beware! This is an eliminator question, designed to shorten the candidate list.

It is one of the most dreaded questions interviewees can hear, but employers
ask this question for a reason.

This question is asked to see if potential employees have critical thinking skills
and self-awareness.

This is one of those questions designed to throw you off - they want to see how
you respond in a stressful situation.

If you have a readily apparent weakness, discuss how you've addressed it and
why it won't be an issue in the job.

This classic tricky interview question appears to be asking you to reveal your
shortcomings, but if you use the right tactics it can be a golden opportunity to
show that you're right for the job.
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The interviewer is probably not really interested in your weaknesses, but is just
testing your ability to deal with a difficult and unexpected situation.

So saying something like 'I sometimes work too hard' is bad idea. Employers
hear these answers a lot.

Don't try to avoid answering!

- Never mentioning a weakness that relates to a crucial requirement of the job.
- Don't try to make up a weakness.
- Don't say you have no weakness. No one is perfect, therefore, you shouldn't
say you have no weakness.

The key in responding to this question is to show the employer that you are
effectively managing the 'weakness' so it will not be a liability for them.

One of the best ways to answer questions about your weaknesses is to mention
a skill that isn't an essential requirement for the job.

Never, never, never choose a weakness that demonstrates your

inappropriateness for the job.

The best way to answer a biggest weakness question is to say a weakness that
is actually a weakness, but one that everyone can relate to. The key to
answering this question is to:
- Say a weakness that is only a small, barely important weakness.
- Follow up that weakness with what you are doing to improve.

No matter what weakness you have, always try to spin it positively.

State your weakness and then say how you have been working on curbing the
mistake.

Why should we hire you for this job?

This question is more often a surprise question to most individuals who are not as experienced
in the process of...

This question is more often a surprise question to most individuals who are not
as experienced in the process of the job interview.

The interviewer's job is to hire the best person for the position. Most of the
candidates that make it to the interview stage are qualified for the job.

The winning candidate must be more than qualified, especially in a very

competitive job market.
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The quickest way to kill a job interview is with cockiness. Never, ever answer
the question with 'Because I'm the best person for this job.'

Being overly confident comes across as brash and rude and will have your
interviewer showing you the door in no time.

The truth is, the 'Why should we hire you?' question is almost always a closing
question in any job interview.
Essentially, it is your final chance to convince your potential boss that you are
worth the risk (and yes, all new hires are considered a risk) to become an
employee of the company.

The most overlooked question is also the one most candidates are unprepared
to answer. This is often because job applicants don't do their homework on the
position.
Your job is to illustrate why you are the most qualified candidate.

Note: Job interviews are your chance to sell your skills, talents and expertise!

The job description is your best guide for how to answer this question.
In poker, this would be the equitant of the company showing their hand: they
are giving you the precise requirements of a hirable candidate.

Pinpoint the most important qualifications by examining which are listed first
and which are accompanied by the most detail then match those requirements
to three or four of your own talents.

You need to think through your answer to the question prior to the interview,
because this one question can determine whether you get a job offer or a
rejection letter.

From the list of requirements, match what you have to offer and merge the two
into a summary statement.

With this question, your interviewer is asking you to sell him on you and your
status as the best person for the position.

Keep in mind that you'll be more believable if you focus on a few strengths and
don't try to claim that you are a master of every business skill imaginable.

This is an opportunity to reiterate your most impressive strengths.

The more detail you give, the better your answer will be.
This is not a time to talk about what you want. Rather, it is a time to
summarize your accomplishments and relate what makes you unique.

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 If you were hiring a person for this job, what would you look for?
This question is a trap. Say you would hire either the best candidate for the job or an individual
possessing...

This question is a trap. Say you would hire either the best candidate for the job
or an individual possessing the qualities and strengths you told the interviewer
you hold.

Make yourself the candidate you would hire without explicitly saying this. Keep
your job interview answers short and professional.

Do not say you would hire yourself since you are the most qualified candidate.
You haven't been in any interview but your own, so you have no idea what
qualified candidates you might be up against.

During the hiring process, avoid preaching your qualifications unless specifically
asked to list them.

Something companies really want to know is what the candidate thinks are the
qualities of a good employee for that position.

The idea is that if the candidate has a misconstrued concept of the roles he or
she will be expected to play at that firm, they might not be the right person for
the job.

It is much easier to hire a person with notions of the job that are congruent
with company expectations than to try to change a candidate's entire idea of
what's important in that position.

To determine this, interviewers will often ask the question 'If you were hiring a
person for this job, what would you look for?'

His or her answer is a great indicator of how he or she will behave if hired.

A person in a particular role needs to have some qualities, skills and expertise.
Analyze the ones required by the position and offer them as an answer.

Be careful to mention traits that are needed and that you have.

Are you applying for other jobs?

There are a lot of things that employers can learn about your candidacy depending on how you
answer...

This question is not a trap, but it is also not something you should answer
haphazardly.

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Purpose of the question: as with all types of interview questions, this question
does have a purpose.

The goal of this question is to gauge the following of the applicant:

- Will the applicant admit that they have applied other places or provide a
canned answer?
- Has the applicant put any thought into the types of companies they have
applied?
- Does the applicant consider the company before they send their application?

As you can see, there are a lot of things that employers can learn about your
candidacy depending on how you answer the question.

Don't brag or take a pride that you have so many options left even if you are
not selected for this job.
This shows your arrogance and negligence about the current job that you are
interviewing for.

This question brings the opportunity to say some sweet words about the
company and interviewers would love to hear it.

This question is to see how interested you are in the applying position.

Show that you are very interested in the opportunity to work here, and how
much you have learnt about the job and the company as well.

By accepting the fact, you must add some more words which suggest that you
are more interested to work with them than others.

If asked about names of who you have spoken to, it is absolutely legitimate to
say you prefer not to disclose that information at this stage.

How do you rate yourself as a professional?

If you can answer this question with a sincere, honest, reasoned response, you're going to
stand out from...

Interviewers ask the question because they are interested in knowing how well
you can handle these roles.

You really have to know yourself and your 'market' in order to answer this
question.

If you're in the job search, you better know these things anyway.
The question is a good one because it speaks to someone's skills and

Página 16 de 27
experience.
No one's perfect.

Be honest, you want to give the most accurate representation of yourself as

possible for you and for the employer.

You don't want to be in a position you are not ready for any more than
someone wants to pay you to be in one you aren't ready for.
But be confident in your skills, and don't sell yourself short.

If you can answer this question with a sincere, honest, reasoned response,
you're going to stand out from the other candidates and earn big points with
the interviewer.

Talk about how you rate yourself based on how others perform in the same
roles that you have had.

Candidates need to get more detail on the question. The more detail you give,
the better your answer will be.
No matter your previous job experience or educational background, be sure to
tell the interviewer you have the knowledge and skills to successfully execute
the job responsibilities.

Rate yourself honestly, keep everything real and simple, and remember that the
best answers are those with specific supporting examples.
Be fluent and confident about describing yourself and your personal capital.
Think of examples of when you were at your best as it relates to the position.
The interviewer is looking for an answer that indicates you've thought about
where you want to work.

Do you prefer to work independently or on a team?

As known, some employees tend, and prefer to work independently, while

others gel well and perform the best when they are in a group.

The reality is that most jobs require us to work both independently and in
teams. Your response to this question should show that you have been
successful in both situations. Most employers want someone who can work well
in a team and work well alone.

This is a question designed to find out if you are able to take direction or
criticism for others and be able to work as a team. It also shows the interviewer
if you have the confidence to work on your own.

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Depending upon different personal traits and workingenvironment, people will
have different answers to this question.

Depending on the job, working independently might be something they are

looking for, as well as being able to work with others, so being comfortable with
both is the ideal answer.

A lot of jobs require teaming up with others and getting along with colleagues
even if you wouldn't normally spend your time with them.

Why do prospective employers ask job candidates if they prefer working alone
or in a group? Most likely, to test their ability to respond deftly to this thought-
provoking question.

Acknowledge the benefits of both work styles in a positive way and put yourself
in great standing for a job offer.

When the interviewer asks 'Do you prefer to work independently or on a team?'
he or she wants to know if you're a team player or would rather work on your
own.

Employers would like to learn how you feel about working with others.

The interviewer will want to hear that you derive satisfaction from doing good
work on your own and enjoy the opportunity to focus on tasks, while you also
thrive in a team and benefit from the interaction with colleagues.

Invoke telling examples from your work history to underscore the credibility of
your previous statements.

give examples that illustrate your answer to this question in a positive manner,
such as a time you worked in a team-like setting and by yourself on a project,
and relate how well you did in both settings.

There's no work or job which doesn't need team work at some point of time.

It does not matter whether independently or as part of a team you should know
how to do both.

.
.

What makes you better than other candidates?

If you decided to go the arrogant route you will not be getting a job offer.
Nobody likes someone who thinks that they are better than everybody else.
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It is in part a chance to show you can think on your feet, part to demonstrate
your confidence, and part to show your maturity.

This question gives you an opportunity to demonstrate why you are the best
candidate for the position.

The interviewer may be indicating that you have failed to convince them so far
that you are the best candidate for the job.

Alternatively, they may just be asking you to pitch yourself. Either way, what
they're really looking for is for you to give them at least one good reason why
they should be hiring you and not someone else.

One of the most important elements that needs to be considered when applying
for jobs is what makes you different from all the other applicants.
After all... there are many other people competing for the very same position as
you, so why should they offer you the job and not them?

To successfully answer this question you need to have a clear understanding of

what the perfect candidate for the job would be and how best you match that
description - more so than the other candidates.
But don't go overboard in your answer; you probably don't know anything
about the other candidates!

DON'T talk about: General workplace traits that every employee should have,
with no supporting evidence.
For instance, ''Because I'm honest, hard-working, reliable, and organized.'' is a
standard-and really bad-answer that does nothing to differentiate you from any
other candidate.

What are your career goals?

It's a tough question to answer, particularly in today's job market.

Many job seekers are simply tempted to answer, 'I'll be glad to finally have a
job.' But recruiters expect a more thorough, intelligent response. And you
should have one ready-to answer both the short and long-term career goals
questions.

Sometimes, the question may be asked in more general terms, as in where do

you see yourself in five years?

Many executives in a position to hire you are strong believers in goal-setting -

It's one of the reason they've achieved so much.

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They like to hire in kind.

Bad answer:
'My career goal is to be the top person in 2-3 year time and my immediate goal
is to gain more experience in this field and be able to grow as the company
grows.'

If you answer this way you'll be seen as a person who's more interested in
climbing and not so much in the job they applied for.

Having well defined professional goals for yourself not only help you in working
with maximum efficiency at present job, but also place you on strong ground
when facing an interview.

Even if your goal is to simply use the company as a stepping-stone to a larger,

more prestigious company, you should intimate that the company offering you
the job will be your home for quite some time.

Remember! You are being hired to help this company grow, prosper, and solve
their current problems. Right now they are looking at you from the perspective
of... What can you do for us?

If you have entrepreneurial urges or other creative business ideas, keep them
to yourself for now, if your career goals do include management, or executive
level positions, make sure your time frame is reasonable.

What is your ideal company?

Why do companies ask this question in an interview?

For starters it's another way to find out how much you know about the
company you are applying to and for that matter the industry you want to work
in.

It is also a question to understand your fit into the organization.

Your answer gives the interviewer an insight into what your requirements or
expectations are from a company and whether his particular company will be
able to fulfill that.

The only right answer is to describe what this company is offering, being sure
to make your answer believable with specific reasons, stated with sincerity, why
each quality represented by this opportunity is attractive to you.

Bad Answer:

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'I would like to find a workplace that values me for who I am. A company that
can give me a good salary of course I would not be honest if I will not tell this.
A company that won't blame me for things a lot and notices how much of a
hard worker I am. Lastly the company that I would feel comfortable to work
and not because I have to.'

This is way too much about you, and makes it sound like you were treated
unfairly at your last job.

This is an example of why company research is important. Without it, you may
list off something that you are looking for that is not available within the
company. That would be embarrassing for you.

Put your company research into the answer as best you can, but try not to
make it sound like you are quoting from their website.

What motivates you to do your best on the job?

This interview question and several similar questions are not simple questions
to answer. They reveal more about your inner psychology, personality and
experience as an employee.

This soul-searching interview question can really catch you off guard unless
you've thought about it before the interview.

The interviewer is trying to understand the key to your being successful in the
job he is interviewing for, and wants to make sure it's a good fit.

Your response will vary based on your background and experiences, but, you
will want to share your enthusiasm and what you like best about your job.

This question is asked to find out whether you are a person who thinks about
long term goals rather than on a short term basis.

You need to consider not only what motivates you now but also what might
motivate you in the future.

Contemplating when you have been most satisfied in your career will not only
help you answer this question, but it will also help you focus on what you want
in your next job.

Your answer will be based on your own individual experiences and analysis.

By focusing on times when you were energized by your work, you may become
more enthusiastic about the job you are seeking.

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Your best answer will emphasize that the quality of the position and its
tasks/responsibilities, along with the quality of the organization have always
been your best motivators.

Do not discuss salary, benefits, or other compensation-related motivations. This

worries interviewers during the hiring process, and there are many more
appropriate instances to discuss these items during a job interview.

You need to tailor your answer so it applies to your particular situation but also
applies to the job for which you are applying so the interviewer can visualise
you doing the new role.

How do you want to improve yourself in the next year?

This question is aimed directly at you and possibly implies that the interviewer
would like to know about your wider interests.
However, you should keep any improvements career orientated.

Anything that is not related to your job specifically should be discounted as a

possible answer.

Talking about getting off this stepping stone and onto the next towards your
ultimate goal may be the truth, but if your interviewer thinks you might not be
hanging around, you probably won't be considered for the post.

Don't bring in personal goals that have nothing to do with the job.

Stay professional when answering this question. Only talk about career goals,
and try to work in how you're going to achieve the next step or two to further
your progress toward those goals.

Keep your responses short but show the interviewer you have defined goals
you plan to work toward over the next year.

- Do not discuss education outside of your job.

- Don't talk about hobbies or interests not directly related to your career.

- Keep your answer professional and rooted firmly in your career goals.

- Don't give the interviewer personal information you wish you hadn't revealed.

- Don't discuss changes you want to see happen within the company; this
question is about you and not the company.

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 How long have you been looking for a job?

Don't try to avoid the question.

There are some interview questions that deal directly with assessing the
candidate's skills and experiences with the open position; while on the other
hand, there are other questions that are just part of an employer's overall
strategic decision making process.

Just as often, they find the candidate on the other side of the desk baffled by
the question and ill-prepared to respond.

Anything longer than 2 - 3 months is considered a long gap and is a serious

weakness in your application.

The concern for the employer is 'Why is this person still on the market' or 'What
am I missing that this person has not been hired already'.

No-one wants to hire someone if they are unwanted by every other employer.

If you have been looking for a job for like eight months, it could sound like you
are a bad candidate because nobody wants to hire you.

If you have been looking for several months then you need to emphasize that
you have been looking for the right role.

Don't describe your job search - this is not the time to describe to the
interviewer your job search details with all the excruciating trials and
tribulations.

Tell me about a situation when your work was criticized

The interviewer wants to see how you manage criticism and why you failed to
meet set standards.

This is a tough question because it's a more clever and subtle way to get you to
admit to a weakness.

You can't dodge it by pretending you've never been criticized. Everybody has
been. Yet it can be quite damaging to start admitting potential faults and
failures that you'd just as soon leave buried.

This question is also intended to probe how well you accept criticism and
direction.

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Whether the criticism is negative or positive, coming from a supervisor or from
co-workers, it can help you understand your shortcomings and encourage you
to improve.

Of course, making mistakes and receiving criticism often go hand-in-hand.

Receiving criticism is part of any career.

In answering this question you need to think of a time when you received
criticism for your work. The example should not be too damaging, that is, don't
make it seem like you routinely miss deadlines or produce work that is sub-
standard.

Give an example of a not-too-damaging learning experience from early in your

career and relate the ways this lesson has since helped you. This demonstrates
that you learned from the experience and the lesson is now one of the
strongest breastplates in your suit of armor.

Don't discuss times you handled criticism poorly at any point in the hiring
process. Never talk about instances occurring outside the workplace. Keep your
responses as closely related to the work environment as possible. Discuss
criticism as a tool used to gain even better results and not as a hindrance
keeping you from working to your greatest potential.

If you are pressed for a criticism from a recent position, choose something fairly
trivial that in no way is essential to your successful performance. Add that
you've learned from this, too, and over the past several years/months, it's no
longer an area of concern because you now make it a regular practice to...etc.

Again, the key is to focus on something not essential to your brilliant

performance but which adds yet another dimension to your already impressive
knowledge base.

Be clear about what you learnt from this situation and how you managed it. For
example, the missed deadline should be a time to learn and time to develop
better strategies, not a time to be devastated.

Think of a time when you were criticized, describe the situation, task, action
and result (STAR) focusing on what you did in the situation. Remember to
highlight what you learned from this experience and how you have now
changed your strategies to ensure this doesn't happen again.

.
.

What changes would you make if you get this job?

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This question can derail your candidacy faster than a bomb on the tracks - and
just as you are about to be hired.

No matter how bright you are, you cannot know the right actions to take in a
position before you settle in and get to know the operation's strengths,
weaknesses key people, financial condition, methods of operation, etc.

If you lunge at this temptingly baited question, you will probably be seen as
someone who shoots from the hip.

Moreover, no matter how comfortable you may feel with your interviewer, you
are still an outsider.

No one, including your interviewer, likes to think that a know-it-all outsider is

going to come in, turn the place upside down and with sweeping, grand
gestures, promptly demonstrate what jerks everybody's been for years.

No matter how comfortable you feel in this situation, you are still an outsider,
and don't know the inside story.

Even if your suggestions are good, you might make them look like idiots, if they
don't see things your way.
And if you say something that doesn't align with the company's culture, then
you look like an idiot.

You, of course, will want to take a good hard look at everything the company is
doing before making any recommendations.

Why did you leave (want to leave) last job?

It's one of the trickiest interview questions and requires a certain amount of
tact. The question can strike fear in even the most confident candidate.

Your interviewer is trying to get to know more about you, but also gauge how
well you handle tough questions and job transitions.

The problem is that sharing reasons (the real ones) might give your interviewer
a negative impression, if not framed appropriately. As an interviewee, you know
that.

You might find yourself spinning around in a jumbled mess of vague

explanations and platitudes.
Your interviewer, sensing your discomfort and the awkward attempt to skirt the
question, wonders what you're hiding and slowly loses interest in you as a
candidate.

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The best strategy for effectively answering this tough interview question is to
prepare for it.

There are many reasons you might have left your last job, and not all of them
are rosy.

The main issue with this question is to maintain a positive stance - even if the
reason for leaving that last job was due to job performance, poor fit, career
change situations, money, politics, boredom, personality conflict or any of the
usual reasons.

Don't badmouth the boss or the company - that implies you may be difficult to
manage.

Before anything else, start by offering a little praise for your current employer
just to show you're not jaded and to frame the answer positively.
Try saying something like: 'My current employer has given me some great
opportunities and I'm sorry to leave. But I'm also really excited about the
future.'

Avoid discussing people: Surveys show that the No. 1 reason people leave a job
is because of other people.
Interviewers know that, but they don't want to hear it. They know it takes two
to tango.

Any discussion regarding difficulties with people will lead your interviewer to
wonder what your role was - and then you're in the danger zone.

You should avoid answers that:

- Speak ill of your old boss, colleague, etc.
- They punished me many times for...
- I did not complete my job.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Often job seekers have no idea where they see themselves in five years. Or
they have some hopes about where they'll be, but are acutely aware that even
the best-laid career plans can change, and so they feel odd about giving an
answer that implies certainty.

It's a tough question. Very few people have any sort of long term plan.

Bad Answer:
'5 years from now I'm hoping to be enrolled full time in graduate school.'
So, in other words, you're going to leave the company. Why hire you then?
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Bad Answer:
'In five years I'd like to have your job'

When you answer with 'in five years I'd like to have your job', you probably
think you're being clever and cute and showing initiative. Not so much. This is
actually a fairly common answer and one almost guaranteed to stop the
interviewing process. It's not a good way to answer!

However, remember that the organization is going to be investing considerable

time, energy, and money in hiring and training someone for this job. You must
at least show an honest intention to stay long enough to be a good investment.

Interviewers who ask this question aren't asking you to write your plans in
stone or commit to them with certainty. They're asking you how you see this
job fitting in with your overall plan for your career.

The interviewer wants to understand more about your career goals and how
this position would fit into your grand plan.

They care about your career goals because they want to hire someone who is
motivated, proactive, and likely to stick around and work hard if hired.

The interviewer is looking to find out a few things with this question.

First, are you the type of person who plans ahead and sets goals? You should
be.
Second, do your goals match those of the company and the position? Your
goals need to fit the career path for the job. They don't want to lose you in a
year or two.

In order to prepare well for this question, research a reasonable career path
which will flow from the position for which you are applying.
How long does one ordinarily spend in that job? What are the next steps within
five years?

So instead of sweating, rolling your eyes or drawing a complete blank when

asked your five-year goal, use it an opportunity to share your motivation for the
job, your goals for building your expertise, and your eagerness to succeed.

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