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Job Interview Questions
I have a job interview tomorrow in our new town. Yeah!
It's been forever since I've been on a "real" interview. Should I take printed copies of my resume? I don't know if I'll just be interviewing with the one person who phone interviewed me today (who obviously has my resume, as she's the one I e-mailed it to, and she was referring to it during the conversation) or if there will be others involved.
Any ideas for good responses to the classic questions, like "what are your weaknesses" and "do you have any questions for us?"
She asked me the "do you have any questions" one already today and I asked her how she came to work at the company and why the position was open.
Any other tips for interviewing? My last job was so casual that a friend of a friend, who already worked there, was the one who set it up and it was pretty much just "come by and chat with the office manager" - they'd already kind of decided to give me the job as long as I wasn't a total idiot just to avoid a protracted search.
Re: Job Interview Questions
For "what is your weakness?" choose something that has been your weakness in the past, but you've figured out how to overcome it (and be prepared to give examples).
Sometimes I ask people what their favorite and least favorite things are about the company or their job. It can give you some insight into the office.
I always bring hard copies. I had one interview with a Director, but then met with 5 other VP's from the team who hadn't seen my resume, so it was impressive I had a copy ready to give to them.
The weakness question I always say something about "working too much and tend to become independent" such as, I do not like to leave a project unfinished and will miss out on co-worker lunches or conversing with others to make sure that the job is done right. I don't know if that's a good answer or not, but it has worked for me even though I work with a team.
For questions to ask, I always ask about expectations of the job, hours, is it a team effort or more individual, describe a typical day, etc. Always ask normal questions to convey your interest.
Stay confident. I am and it sometimes comes across as cocky, but it has worked out in my favor. In fact, my last interview, my boss asked me what the biggest confrontations I have had with co-workers and I told him the main issue I have is feeling like I can do their job better than them. I expect the best from others as I do myself and I won't put my name on something that is mediocre. Could have been a bad decision, but my boss loves me and knows that I will get the job done and can handle any issues that arise without having to run to him. Good luck!
Bringing hard copies can't hurt, it can only help. Like TY notes. Why NOT do something that could sway someone's opinion in your favor?
Here's my golden question: (phrase in your own way) Is there anything that you are looking for in a candidate that I haven't addressed for you yet?
I really like that question. Plus I usually ask the "why did the previous person leave? best/worst part of working here?" and the pp question about why they came to the company is good, too.
Bring extra resumes - probably won't need them but would suck to be without.
weakness - I'll usually reference something unrelated to the job at hand or, like pp said, a specific tendency you have that you have overcome. I've heard you should avoid using the word weakness in your answer and use words like tendency because it implies ONLY that your natural inclination is to behave that way... not that you DO behave that way.