Your Interview is Calling -Don't Give the Wrong Answer!

Many job candidates are nervous about participating in a job interview. After much hard work in writing countless resumes, cover letters, and job applications, these individuals hope that they will interview well, impress the hiring officer of the company to which they have applied, and finally get hired. With some practice and preparation, employment interviewing need not be a mystery or a horror. In fact, it can be enjoyable, informative, and even fun. In addition, every interview that you complete will make you more practiced in the art of interviewing. By continuing to interview for jobs, you will learn the range of variety of questions and scenarios that may confront you. Then you will be better prepared to win the job of your dreams! There are many different things that you should not say during a job interview and there are likely more than 10 things not to say. However, 10 of the worst things to say are listed below. There are also things that your potential employers' representatives should not say to you or ask you. In addition, there are some questions that are simply illegal to ask any job candidate in an interview.

NEVER SAY THESE 10 THINGS

1. How much does the job pay?
Some people ask this question before the interviewer has a chance to even ask THEIR first question and this is a big mistake. It makes it seem as if all you are after is money. As a rule, wages and salaries are not discussed during the first interview. You may have three interviews altogether with one company. If money is discussed, it is up to the interviewer from the company to open up that subject. If they ask you how much money you want, have a range of salaries to give them and not a specific amount. First, research how much the job you want really pays in your town or state and then come up with a range of a yearly salary to request. Let's say an auto mechanic makes $35,000 a year in your city after working five years. When you apply to become an auto mechanic, state the range of pay you want as $32,000 - 38,000 a year. Or you could use a broader range, like $30,000 - $40,000 a year. Make sure it is a realistic range. For example, if a fast food full-time grillman in your town usually makes $13,000 per year, don't interview at that restaurant and ask for $20,000 - $30,000 per year.

2. What does your company make (or do)?

A job candidate must research the company for which they want to work before going into a job interview with them. Look the company up on the Internet and read as much as you can about it and take notes. Try to find the company's Annual Report and read it. Your local libraries can help you do that.

3. Do not use SLANG words or phrases in your job interview.

The interview is not a casual conversation with friends on a street corner or in a lounge. It is a formal conversation and requires the use of good English grammar. There is not time enough during an interview for the interviewer to figure out what you are talking about. They also should not HAVE to figure it out. On the other hand, even if they do understand you, you are being disrespectful and overly casual in the interview by using slang. You will also sound like you are playing and not serious about doing good work, and the interviewer won't take you seriously. Just don't do it.

4. What can you do for me; what are the benefits like vacations, promotions and bonuses?
Hiring officers and job interviewers like job candidates with self-confidence, but they do not like people who are selfish. The first interview you have with a company is all about what you can do for THEM. You are not doing them a favor by interviewing with them, so keep these questions until the second interview or until the interviewer opens up the subject. The interviewer will ask you why the company should hire you and then you can emphasize your skills, talents and contributions you have to offer them. Be prepared to tell clearly what specific ways you have helped your former employers.

5. No profanity or cursing of any kind.

You must never curse, cuss, or use any kind of profanity in any job interview. That includes the word p_ssed, as in "p_ssed off." That is cursing and profanity. Do not say it. Do not say "damn", "hell", or the F-word or the n-word. In addition, women are women and not "hos."

A more appropriate start.

6. No stereotypical language.
Do not refer to people of other genders, sexual orientations, nationalities, ethnicities, races, handicaps, religions or other diversity in any slang terms, slurs, or other denigrating language. Ever.

7. Do not criticize any former employer.

Bashing a former boss, or criticizing them in any way, lets the interviewer know that you will do the same to them if you leave their company. Instead, you can explain that you had a difference of opinion with your former employer in work philosophies or styles. Do not dwell on your answer about an employer where things did not go so well for you, and make it short.

8. If you are asked if you have any questions, don't say "No."
Saying NO says to the interviewer that you are not very interested in the company and not very smart. So be smart. When you research the company before your interview, come up with at least three questions to ask about the company itself during the interview. For example, ask what plans they have to expand in the next 10 years, or ask what new products and services they might be considering. This is not the time to ask about salary and benefits, either.

Interview Mistakes to Avoid Why Should We Hire You?

9. I don't have any weaknesses.
You will likely be asked what strengths and weaknesses you have. If you say you don't have any, the interviewer will believe that you are lying or that you are not thinking. You can say that you don't like to waste time on small talk and are working on being more friendly in the workplace. This is a positive "weakness."

10. Don't tell them your life story.

The interviewer will ask you to tell them a little about yourself, but this means where you went to school, what you accomplished in school, where you have worked, and how you have helped your former employers. It can include a little about hobbies and volunteer work, but don't dwell on these things. Don't tell the employer anything that will lead them to knowing your age, race, gender orientation, religious beliefs, medical conditions, or other personal information. Legally, until they are offering you a job, the employer is not allowed to ask you if you are married, have children, or are planning these things in the future. They CAN ask you what certifications and licenses you have relevant to the position. If they ask you what nationality your last name is, politely answer that you don't know how that is relevant to the job, but that you would like to discuss your qualifications. If they ask you how old you are, tell them that you will gladly provide that information after you are hired. The exception to this is if you need to be at least 18 years old to work for the company in the USA. If you are 21 and look young, you may have to answer this question. Lastly, do not bring up personal problems in a job interview, including divorce, breaking up with a girlfriend, bankruptcy, etc.

How to answer interview questions

It's difficult to get to the interview stage; ensure that you don't blow your chance when you do
Carol Lewis

ALL that effort honing your application has paid off, now all you need is a snazzy suit, a big smile and some answers. Here we ask recruiters for the answers to their favourite interview questions so that you dont disappoint. 1. Tell me about yourself. This is your big chance to sell yourself, so go for it. Outline the skills and personal qualities that are relevant to the job. The interviewer wants to know how you are going to behave in the role, so draw on real-life ancedotes to illustrate the points you make, says Lynn Williams, author of The Ultimate Interview Book (Kogan Page, 9.99). 2. What do your work colleagues think of you? I like to ask people to consider the third person perspective; they have to think on their feet, and it allows me to assess their selfawareness. Id also ask what their work colleagues would consider were their strengths and areas for development, says Geoff Hall, the head of human resources for World Duty Free. 3. Why do you want the job? This is a basic but important question, says Richard Alberg, a senior vice president at Kenexa, a recruitment and retention company. We are looking for evidence that the candidate has thought about the job, the company, the brand.

BACKGROUND

How to write a CV How to write a covering letter How to negotiate your benefits package How to change career

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4. What drives you to achieve your objectives? An interviewer is looking to fulfil certain competencies, in this case motivation and commitment. You might say I like doing a job well and perform best when stretched, says Tim Forster, the head of UK experienced recruitment at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

5. Tell me about a problem you have solved. Janet Gray, the HR and IT director at Jarvis Hotels, says: I want to know about the processes and skills used and that they came to a reasonable solution. I want to know how quickly they react, whether they take risks and whether they are able to think off the wall. 6. What are your weaknesses? I dont take kindly to foolish questions is the obvious response. A more grown-up answer is to point out a couple of areas where you may need training or development should you get the job. 7. Why have you taken the career path that you have? I look for goals and conscious decisions. It is best if people have fallen into roles to explain it in terms of seizing opportunities, thats much more positive than the idea that they have been forced into decisions, says Sally Temple, the succession and recruitment manager for the UK electricals division of DSGI. 8. Where do you see yourself in five years time? We are looking for an ambition that hangs together, is realistic and coherent, Alberg says. So, it is OK to say you want to have the interviewers job if that is a realistic aim. 9. What challenges do you believe this organisation faces? We are looking to see that they have done their research and have the commercial sophistication to understand the implications of that research, Alberg says. 10. Is a Jaffa Cake a biscuit or a cake? When an interviewer asks an oddball question they want to see how you react under stress. Williams says: Dont panic, take your time, talk through your thinking and although there is no right answer, commit yourself to one. THE QUESTIONS THEY WANT YOU TO ASK THEM... What is the next stage in the process and will I receive feedback on this interview? What are my promotion prospects? Will I be given a mentor to oversee my development? How is my career path determined? Why should I join your organisation over another? How do you measure success? What have previous people who have held this role gone on to do? What will be the main challenges I will face in the first six months? ... AND THE ONE THEY DON'T Is that all youre prepared to pay? Bad, sad or funny, we would like to hear about your interview experiences

How to answer interview questions

There are some common interview questions and you should prepare your answers beforehand. The key thing to remember when responding to interview questions is to keep your answers brief and to the point. If you are faced with a difficult question, make sure you stay calm, don't get defensive, and take a moment to think about your response before you answer. Remember, the answers below are only suggestions. Try to personalise your response as much as possible. Question: Tell me about yourself. Answer: Identify some of your main attributes and memorise them. Describe your qualifications, career history and range of skills, emphasising those skills relevant to the job on offer. Q: What have your achievements been to date? A. Select an achievement that is work-related and fairly recent. Identify the skills you used in the achievement and quantify the benefit it had to the company. For example, 'my greatest achievement has been to design and implement a new sales ledger system, bringing it in ahead of time and improving our debtors' position significantly, saving the company 50,000 a month in interest'. Q: Are you happy with your career-to-date? A: This question is really about your self-esteem, confidence and career aspirations. The answer must be 'yes', followed by a brief explanation as to what it is about your career so far that's made you happy. If you have hit a career plateau, or you feel you are moving too slowly, then you must qualify your answer. Q: What is the most difficult situation you have had to face and how did you tackle it? A: The purpose of this question is to find out what your definition of difficult is and whether you can show a logical approach to problem solving. In order to show yourself in a positive light, select a difficult work situation which was not caused by you and which can be quickly explained in a few sentences. Explain how you defined the problem, what the options were, why you selected the one you did and what the outcome was. Always end on a positive note. Q: What do you like about your present job? A: This is a straightforward question. All you have to do is make sure that your 'likes' correspond to the skills required for the job on offer. Be enthusiastic; describe your job as interesting and diverse but do not overdo it - after all, you are looking to leave. Q: What do you dislike about your present job? A: Be cautious with this answer. Do not be too specific as you may draw attention to weaknesses that will leave you open to further problems. One approach is to choose a characteristic of your present company, such as its size or slow decision-making processes

etc. Give your answer with the air of someone who takes problems and frustrations in your stride as part of the job. Q: What are your strengths? A: This is one question that you know you are going to get so there is no excuse for being unprepared. Concentrate on discussing your main strengths. List three or four proficiencies e.g. your ability to learn quickly, determination to succeed, positive attitude, your ability to relate to people and achieve a common goal. You may be asked to give examples of the above so be prepared. Q: What is your greatest weakness? A: Do not say you have none - this will lead to further problems. You have two options - use a professed weakness such as a lack of experience (not ability) on your part in an area that is not vital for the job. The second option is to describe a personal or professional weakness that could also be considered to be a strength and the steps you have taken to combat it. An example would be: "I know my team think I'm too demanding at times - I tend to drive them pretty hard but I'm getting much better at using the carrot and not the stick". Q: Why do you want to leave your current employer? A: State how you are looking for a new challenge, more responsibility, experience and a change of environment. Do not be negative in your reasons for leaving. It is rarely appropriate to cite salary as your primary motivator. Q: Why have you applied for this particular job? A: The employer is looking for evidence that the job suits you, fits in with your general aptitudes, coincides with your long-term goals and involves doing things you enjoy. Make sure you have a good understanding of the role and the organisation, and describe the attributes of the organisation that interest you most. Other common interview questions to consider:

How does your job fit in to your department and company? What do you enjoy about this industry? Give an example of when you have worked under pressure. What kinds of people do you like working with? Give me an example of when your work was criticised. Give me an example of when you have felt anger at work. How did you cope and did you still perform a good job? What kind of people do you find it difficult to work with? Give me an example of when you have had to face a conflict of interest at work. Tell me about the last time you disagreed with your boss. Give me an example of when you haven't got on with others. Do you prefer to work alone or in a group? Why? This organisation is very different to your current employer - how do you think you are going to fit in? What are you looking for in a company?

How do you measure your own performance? + What kind of pressures have you encountered at work? Are you a self-starter? Give me examples to demonstrate this? What changes in the workplace have caused you difficulty and why? How do you feel about working long hours and/or weekends? Give me an example of when you have been out of your depth. What have you failed to achieve to date? What can you bring to this organisation?

A new trend began in the late 80s and early 90s to ask stranger and stranger questions. The goal is to put a potential employee off stride, thus testing their ability to think and react under pressure. This specific question also gives an interviewer insight into how a person perceives themselves. It came into use as an interview question after people like Barbara Walters made it famous in her celebrity interviews. Avoid animals with negative connotations such as a snake (sneaky) or hyena (untrustworthy) unless of course the job requires those qualities. A salesman may not want to be perceived as a snake, but if youre going for a job as a repossession agent, being sneaky is a positive. I blend in, and then when theyre not looking, when they least expect it, I strike, the car is mine! Cuddly animals may sound nice, but its not something needed on a job unless its a nurturing job. Teacher: Students love me because, while I know how to teach, Im approachable and often help them solve their problems. They can talk to me like a favorite stuffed teddy bear. Research into the job allows you to relate the animal to the position in question. But the best animal answers denote qualities such as strength, intelligence or leadership. Strength: Im a lion, I let people do their own thing but my staff knows when to stop discussing and start listening, thats my roar. Intelligence: I like to consider myself a dolphin, the smartest animal. Theres no problem I cant solve. Leadership: Im the lead elephant. When something needs to be done, I trumpet the charge into action. Perseverance: Big jobs dont scare me, I take them one step at a time, pecking away at them like a woodpecker until theyre finished. For certain jobs, such as those requiring hard, repetitive work, other animals are more appropriate.

Im like an army ant, put me to a task with the team, and nothing can stop me. I put my head down and get the job done. Good animals include: Tiger Intelligent / street smart Monkey Intelligent / nimble Fox Clever, but with a hint of dishonesty Lion Regal, commanding Elephant Leader, unstoppable, great memory Ant Hard worker Dolphin Intelligent Generally bad animals (at least for this question) include: ? Snake Sneaky and dishonest ? Whale Bloated ? Sloth Lazy One poor answer given was I think of myself as an apple, wait, is that an animal?

Why are you interested in this role? This is an important question, both for you and the interviewer. Is the job really right for you? Is it what you want? Why do you want it? Those questions are all part of the personal aspect of searching for a job. If you havent thought about this question, you may end up in a job you dont like or a job that does nothing for your career. Even I need the money is fine for an internal answer. Just dont make it the complete answer to this question during an interview. For the interviewer it shows youve put some thought into the job search, and some thought into why the job is right for you and thus why youre right for the job. When giving the answer include your qualifications and goals with the needs of the job and the company. That means having done research on the company and the position. Some good answers include: Perfect for Me: This is a great career opportunity, but even more than that the job seems tailor made for my skills. Ill be able to put my expertise in marketing to work here, and it will be challenging. I live for a challenge. Good Team: My skills really fit the job I shaved 20% off my last companys budget by eradicating duplicate efforts. I also love the team Ill be joining I think well get along great and we can learn a lot from each other.

Exciting Company: From your web site and what some friends tell me, your company is launching some exciting initiatives. I want to be a part of that growth. Hone my Skills: Now that Ive graduated top of the class from business skill, Im excited about putting those skills to work for a successful, growing company. I Can Do It: I want this job demonstrating products to the public because Im good at communicating with people. I enjoy meeting them and helping them discover new, helpful products. Applaud the Company: So many companies are outsourcing for cheaper foreign labor, but you recognize the value of a better skilled, experienced work force. It makes me proud to be considered for a position with an organization like this one. Ill be even prouder to work for you. What should be avoided in an answer? Heres one example. Im lazy. Your job listing was first in the want ads, so here I am.

Tell me about a time where you had to deal with conflict on the job? A workers success, no matter the job, is measured in two scales behavior and results. The results are the amount of work done and the quality of that work. Behavior is how the results are accomplished. Keep in mind that interviewers want to measure a candidate on both scales, and you want to score highly on both. A good candidate has the skills to accomplish the job, but must also go about obtaining results in a positive manner. Heres an example: As a manager you can push people who work for you hard, keep on top of them, look over their shoulders, yell and punish bad behavior. On a single project basis that works well to get results, but over a long period of time people wont be happy, and the quality of their work will diminish. So interviewers spend a lot of time on behavioral questions that reveal how youve handled or will handle common work situations. These questions dont require expression of a great deal of experience, but they do require expressing positive behaviors from either work or private life. One way to answer this question, and other behavioral questions, well is to use the STAR (SAR) method. This method describes, and helps you remember, the elements of an excellent answer. Situation Recall and describe, in accurate detail, the situation, including the task that had to be accomplished. Action Dont talk about what could have been done, describe the actions you took in the specific situation. If it was a group effort, describe exactly what you contributed to the group.

 Result Describe how the situation ended, either by describing the success or what you, personally, learned from the situation. Our new boss didnt understand the work we did, and as a result demanded procedures that were outdated. Everyone in the department complained about the problem, so one day I suggested we explain things to the new boss. We did it as a group, but I drew up flow charts of the outdated procedures as well as the new ones, showing how those saved time and gave better results. Our boss thanked us for the explanation but still insisted we do things his way he said the new procedures missed some important reporting that could come in handy in the future. I still think we were right, but I understood his point of view those reports could come in handy. Some answers can be too honest. A co-worker kept butting in front of me in line in the cafeteria, so I threw the dessert in her face.

How do you manage/handle pressure or stress? If you dont handle pressure or stress well, now is not the time to reveal that. Take a crash course in handling it. Honesty is the best policy in interviews. Honestly, if you cant handle pressure or stress then you dont belong in the work place. The question is asked for exactly the reason it seems. The interviewer wants to know how well you handle pressure and stress. Give a positive answer, along with a real world example of how youve handled stress in the work place. Embrace Them: Pressure and stress are part of the working world. I thrive under pressure. I bend, work harder, but I dont break. Avoid Them: I plan and react to situations, not to pressure and stress. The best way to handle them is to deflate them as quickly as possible with calm, diligent work. One step at a time. They Improve Me I do my best work under pressure or in a stressful environment. Channel Them Thats why I box. At the end of a work day I take it out on the punching bag. Management Stress and pressure are often caused by a lack of communication or a clear understanding of a task. I make sure to communicate with my superiors, colleagues and staff so that were on the same page. That way we all know what to expect, and things dont get tense. Types of Examples: Deadline Changed One Friday the boss let us know the deadline had changed from the following Friday to the

following Monday. I got him to buy lunch, dinner and late night snacks over the weekend, so that the team and I could get the job done on time. Someone Dropped the Ball One of our producers completely missed a deadline. I was waiting on that work to start my part of the project. I sat down with her and helped her finish her part, in return for her helping me with mine. We finished all the work ahead of schedule. Non Specific Example: When things get really tense I huddle with my co-workers and figure out how to improve the situation. Sometimes it means a few extra hours for everyone, but we know going in. Knowing is half the battle. Avoid this answer, given by a woman who didnt get the job. When things get tough, I usually retreat to the restroom for a good cry.

How well do you work with people? Do you prefer working alone or in teams? Sometimes interviewers ask trick questions. This isnt one of those times. The purpose is to determine if you like working alone or as part of a group. While sometimes a job can be tailored to your preference, most often an employer is looking for someone flexible in this regard. Most jobs require periods of working alone, and periods of interacting with others. Be honest. What that means is before looking for a job make sure you can work well with a team or alone. People will work better one way or the other, but having flexibility is important in the working world. As always, do research on the company and job to better frame an answer. A good answer to this question reflects that flexibility, and gives specific examples of working in both situations. Express Flexibility Directly: I enjoy working as part of a team, but also on my own. I read the job description and your web site, and found that there are going to be opportunities to do both. I look forward to each one. The bottom line is meet the goals. Story Reflecting Both: When I was in HS I was in the marching band. That required long hours of practicing on my own so I could play the music and march the right step length and cadence. Then there were long hours of practicing with the group to coordinate everything. I have to admit I much preferred working with the group, but I know solo work is often part of the overall picture. Ten Towards a Loner: I feel I get a lot more done when I work on my own. I get into a zone and really crank out the ideas. But I recognize that most tasks take working with others who bring their own unique skills to the table. When I first started college I didnt much like working in groups, but Ive learned to enjoy that too.

The job itself will tell you whether to flavor the answer more with team work or more with working alone. For example software developers often work in isolation, but some software development shops employ methods that require team coding. It would be a disaster to say I got into software development so I could work without being bothered by other people in one of those team shops. One woman didnt have a clue when she answered the question. Neither!

What Can You Do for Us That Other Candidates Cant? The purpose of this question is threefold. It is to discover what abilities and experience you bring to the company to help it while at the same time zeroing in on why you should be chosen over someone else. Finally, it is designed to make you a little nervous. After all, you dont know what qualifications other candidates bring to the table. To handle the third part, checking your demeanor when nervous, remain calm. Try a little humor to begin the answer such as Can I meet the other candidates first? But make sure its clear thats not the whole answer. Knowing something about the company and its goals, and how those goals match yours, is important. Give specific examples of how your education, experience, skills and accomplishments make you an asset. And make sure to add something that sets you apart from the crowd. A pairing of skills that are unusual together can make for a very strong answer. Such combinations include:

technically minded AND a great communicator good with numbers AND speak several languages an engineering whiz AND jog 10 miles a day a good organizer AND have a great sense of humor

Make sure the combination are skills that apply to the job in some way. Be honest. But also keep in mind that many skills can apply to almost any job. Software Engineer: I am an excellent organizer and project planner, even for complex applications. AND I work out daily exercise makes the mind sharper. Nurse: I have a photographic memory, so little details wont escape me. Im also very patient with people, no matter what the demands. Construction Worker: Im a master carpenter, and a great communicator. If you need someone to talk to other contractors or clients, Im the go to guy. Some stereotypical answers that do no good for this question include: Im a workaholic. Very transparent.

I work hard to be an asset to the company. So does everyone. Im uniquely qualified for the job. The question was how, give details. Ill give 110% to this position. This isnt high school football. One of the strangest combinations of skills ever revealed in an interview? I can ride a bull, and Im a gourmet pastry chef. But can she make a souffl while riding a bull? What did you dislike most about your last job? Its best to be honest, so its best if you liked your last job so much there was nothing to dislike. That leads to an excellent answer. I hated having to leave, but they had to downsize so a lot of key people were released. Most people can find something they dont like about a job, but now isnt the time to expound on it, or even to mention it. Honesty includes steering the answer towards positives rather than negatives which reflect badly during an interview. Good boss: I really cant say I disliked anything about the job enough to talk about it, but I really learned a lot from my boss. I see the person Id be working for here is a real pro too. Liked Coworkers: I never really thought about bad things there. It was an enjoyable experience to work with the people at that job. Everyone got along, knew their jobs, helped each other when someone needed help. I look forward to a similar experience here. The best answer to this question has a number of key elements: Avoid negatives, mention dislikes to acknowledge the question while giving a reasonable explanation for not expounding on a dislike. Include something positive in the answer. Tie in the positive to the new potential job research helps. If the last job was so bad that theres nothing positive about it, look harder. Unless you worked under the whip, literally, every day, there must be something good, or at least not so bad about the job. Boss was a jerk, so spin it to having learned about management through observing what not to do. I dont take time to dwell about bad things, but I have to say I learned a lot about management at the last job. I intend to apply those lessons here. Pay was too low, and often not on time. Spin it to lessons about the importance of enjoying work.

I cant say there were a lot of negatives, at least nothing that stands out now that I think about it. What I do know is that the job taught me how important it is to enjoy work. Sure its a job to collect a check, but I cant work for just money. One of the reasons Im interested in this job is its something Ill enjoy. This answer, recently given at a job interview, is an example of what not to say. I hate work in general, but a pay check is a pay check.

Tell me about a tough work situation / project and how you solved it? Job interview questions like this are behavioral questions. They operate on the theory that how you responded in the past determines how youll respond in the future. The interviewer wants to know how youll respond if you get this job, so they ask you about other jobs. Make sure to focus on positives. Give concrete examples, not general stories, about real work situations. Then describe how you solved the problem. Be specific, give a list of steps you took. To answer this type of question make sure to spend some time, prior to the interview, recalling past work experiences. Prepare stories in advance. Youll have your own stories, but here are some good responses: Key Person Departs: Just before a deadline one of my co-workers had to take a leave of absence after her husband died. Half the project was in her head. It was a tough situation, but she was willing to sit down with me to go over the details. Luckily my boss was willing to hire a temp to take care of the more mundane tasks while I took care of the heavy lifting. We made it, but barely. Crime: Right in the middle of one of our marketing events a guy held up a gun and started shooting. Everyone panicked, there was screaming. I hit the deck and dialed 911. The police were there really quickly. Nobody was hurt. Computer Crash: Just when we needed it most, our busiest time, our server crashed. I always say the time to deal with a crisis is before it happened. We had recently moved from self hosting to a hosted facility. They had a backup of all the data and an instant hot swap. All I had to do was read an email that there had been a problem, and tell the boss the hosting had saved us some serious down time. Flaky Developers: The company had spent over two million dollars developing a custom web store. After two years of constant problems, we needed something that worked. I found an online affiliate situation that met all our needs. All we had to do was pay a small portion of every sale, which ended up saving us a lot of money both in up time and no more development costs.

Heres one from the book of what not to say. I locked myself inside my car one morning. My boss had to call the police. I opened the window, gave them the keys, within seconds I was out of the car. Dont call us, well call you after that answer.

Have you interviewed at other companies? Some people want to hide that theyre interviewing elsewhere, thinking it makes the employer think theyre very interested in the job. But on the flip side answering no can make it seem youre conducting a poor job search. Also, if you have interviewed but say no, the interviewer might find out through connections. Lying in an interview is a black mark that, with rare exceptions, strikes you from the list instantly. Some people want to flaunt that theyre interviewing at many companies, as it creates a perceived demand for their services. Thats fine if you are interviewing at other companies, but if not dont make up a list of companies where youve interviewed. That too could come back to the interviewer with a little research. Honesty is the best policy, as is a a combination of the two general ideas conveyed by each answer your options are open, but youre very interested in this opportunity. An answer as simple as I am interviewing at a number of companies, but yours is my first choice conveys both ideas well. Theres no need to get into a list of other companies. If the interviewer follows with where have you interviewed or where else will you interview the best answer is right now thats confidential. Mentioning names could be messy for the future in a number of ways. For example one interviewer knows the other, and they compare notes on you. This could be good or bad maybe one had a negative impression and convinces the other to change their opinion to the negative. Keep the answer short. I want this one: Yes, but this is the job I want the most. Open options: Im sitting for many interviews to keep my options open, but I hope I get this job. Final one: This is the last of a number of interviews, Ive already been offered some jobs, but yours is the first Id accept. This is the first of many: I have a number scheduled. Yours is the first, and if Im offered the job, the last. Will move for the right offer: I found a few jobs that interest me, and Ill interview at those if I dont get this job. But Im happy where I am right now, Ill only move for the right offer.

Whatever you do, dont use this answer given by a very unsuccessful job seeker. Yes, but I wish I hadnt. These interviews are a waste of time, do I have the job or not?

Tell me about a tough work situation / project and how you solved it? Job interview questions like this are behavioral questions. They operate on the theory that how you responded in the past determines how youll respond in the future. The interviewer wants to know how youll respond if you get this job, so they ask you about other jobs. Make sure to focus on positives. Give concrete examples, not general stories, about real work situations. Then describe how you solved the problem. Be specific, give a list of steps you took. To answer this type of question make sure to spend some time, prior to the interview, recalling past work experiences. Prepare stories in advance. Youll have your own stories, but here are some good responses: Key Person Departs: Just before a deadline one of my co-workers had to take a leave of absence after her husband died. Half the project was in her head. It was a tough situation, but she was willing to sit down with me to go over the details. Luckily my boss was willing to hire a temp to take care of the more mundane tasks while I took care of the heavy lifting. We made it, but barely. Crime: Right in the middle of one of our marketing events a guy held up a gun and started shooting. Everyone panicked, there was screaming. I hit the deck and dialed 911. The police were there really quickly. Nobody was hurt. Computer Crash: Just when we needed it most, our busiest time, our server crashed. I always say the time to deal with a crisis is before it happened. We had recently moved from self hosting to a hosted facility. They had a backup of all the data and an instant hot swap. All I had to do was read an email that there had been a problem, and tell the boss the hosting had saved us some serious down time. Flaky Developers: The company had spent over two million dollars developing a custom web store. After two years of constant problems, we needed something that worked. I found an online affiliate situation that met all our needs. All we had to do was pay a small portion of every sale, which ended up saving us a lot of money both in up time and no more development costs. Heres one from the book of what not to say. I locked myself inside my car one morning. My boss had to call the police. I opened the window, gave them the keys, within seconds I was out of the car. Dont call us, well call you after that answer.

The 5S Process, or simply "5S", is a structured program to systematically achieve total organization, cleanliness, and standardization in the workplace. A well-organized workplace results in a safer, more efficient, and more productive operation. It boosts the morale of the workers, promoting a sense of pride in their work and ownership of their responsibilities. "5S" was invented in Japan, and stands for five (5) Japanese words that start with the letter 'S': Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, and Shitsuke. Table 1 shows what these individual words mean. An equivalent set of five 'S' words in English have likewise been adopted by many, to preserve the "5S" acronym in English usage. These are: Sort, Set (in place), Shine, Standardize, and Sustain. Some purists do not agree with these English words they argue that these words have lost the essence of the original 5 Japanese words. Table 1. 5S Definitions

Japanese Term Seiri Seiton Seiso Seiketsu Shitsuke

Seiri

English Equivalent Tidiness Orderliness Cleanliness Standardization Discipline

Meaning in Japanese Context Throw away all rubbish and unrelated materials in the workplace Set everything in proper place for quick retrieval and storage Clean the workplace; everyone should be a janitor Standardize the way of maintaining cleanliness Practice 'Five S' daily - make it a way of life; this also means 'commitment'

The first step of the "5S" process, seiri, refers to the act of throwing away all unwanted, unnecessary, and unrelated materials in the workplace. People involved in Seiri must not feel sorry about having to throw away things. The idea is to ensure that everything left in the workplace is related to work. Even the number of necessary items in the workplace must be kept to its absolute minimum. Because of seiri, simplification of tasks, effective use of space, and careful purchase of items follow. Seiton Seiton, or orderliness, is all about efficiency. This step consists of putting everything in an assigned place so that it can be accessed or retrieved quickly, as well as returned in that same place quickly. If everyone has quick access to an item or materials, work flow becomes efficient, and the worker becomes productive. The correct place, position, or holder for every tool, item, or material must be chosen carefully in relation to how the work will be performed and who will use them. Every single item must be allocated its own place for safekeeping, and each location must be labeled for easy identification of what it's for.