Hi, over the next few weeks I will be publishing regular advice on how to ace your job / university / MBA, or PhD interview. If you would like to book a lesson with me, I will provide you with a 28 page document that I have written with some sample questions and advice on how to answer them. In these articles that I am publishing, you will find a group of questions and the appropriate advice on how to answer them, and in some cases you will even find some sample answers. During a lesson, I will go through the questions with you, let you answer as if you were in an interview environment and then I will check, and if necessary, correct the content of your answer. I hope you find the following information useful and I really look forward to seeing you online if you choose a class with me! I am also offering a 20% discount for any new students for ANY of my lessons. 

Lesson link:

https://cafetalk.com/lessons/detail/?id=11273&key=ec0e3f840eb8c5a75b04f6306f25dd66

·       Are you opposed to doing a lot of routine work?

Do not answer with, “Oh yes, I will enjoy filing eight hours a day, 40 hours a week, 50 weeks a year!”  Instead, try to assure the interviewer you are not going to go mad doing a boring job. For example; “I know this position requires a lot of routine work, but I don't expect to start at the top. I'm willing to start at the bottom and prove myself. Eventually, I know I will be assigned tasks that require more brain power because I think you will see my potential at an early stage”.

·       What is good customer service?

In any organisation, you will have to deal with internal customers (colleagues across different departments, mangers etc.) and external (paying) customers. Your answer should encompass how you deal with satisfying both internal and external customers. You should focus on not just achieving the customer’s expectation(s), but exceeding those expectations. A customer will not remember an individual or company that just met their expectations, but they will always remember those who exceeded their expectations. Focus on levels of excellence that you believe will make you and the company stand out from competitors.

·       Is there anything I haven't told you about the job or company that you would like to know?

It is vitally important that you ask your interviewer some searching questions. This will show them that you are not bored by the whole interview scenario and that you are genuinely interested in the company and would like to know more about the job on offer. Below is a list of example questions that you can use. Obviously the list of questions is long and so only choose questions for which the answers will most interest you:

Why is this position available?

Is this a new position? How long has this position existed?

How many people have held this position in the last five years?

Who would be my supervisor/manager? To whom would I report?

Whom will I supervise?

With whom will I be working most closely?

What do YOU like most (or least!) about working for this company?

What are the current plans for expansion or cutbacks?

What kind of employee turnover or retention rate does the company have?

How financially sound is this company?

What projects and assignments will I be working on?

What happened to the person that held this position before? Were they promoted, fired or did they resign?

What is this company's culture, (i.e., is it rigid and formal, or relaxed and flexible)?

What are the current problems or issues facing the company (or department)?

What is the philosophy of the company?

What do you consider to be the company's strengths and weaknesses?

What are the company's long and short term goals?

Can you describe the work environment?

What attracted you (the interviewer) to this organization when YOU first applied?

Can you describe the typical responsibilities of the position.

What are the most challenging aspects of the position?

Can you describe the opportunities for training and professional development.

Will I receive any formal training (courses or on-the-job training)?

What is the company's promotional policy? And what are there opportunities for advancement within the organization?

When can I expect to hear from you?

Interview Questions: The Future

·       What are you looking for in your next job? What is important to you?

The interviewer will want to know what your expectations are regarding the job you are applying for and what you consider are important working conditions. Try not be too demanding with regards to your expectations and say that you are looking forward to facing new challenges and meeting them head-on. State that you want to ‘enjoy coming to work’ and do not just ‘see work as a means to an end’. Do not say that you expect an easy life in the office, or that you want to be promoted quickly, or want a high salary increment in your first year’s appraisal. Be realistic as to what you think they can offer you and what you are capable of achieving for them, and of course- yourself.

·       Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years from now?

Assume that you may be promoted two or three times in five years, so your answer should state that you see yourself working at whatever job is two or three levels above the job in which you are applying. Do not claim that you will be ‘running the company’ in five years. You might want to add that you understand your promotions will be earned through hard work and that you do not assume you will be promoted just because you stayed with the company.