"Wow, I shouldn’t have said all that!…" you’re thinking to yourself, "Especially that part about the unicorns!" Somewhere in the 20 minutes it took you to respond to the question "Can you tell me a little about yourself?", you realized that your inner monologue had been awkwardly introduced to the hiring manager sitting across from you.
It’s easy to be drawn off sides by seemingly innocent interview questions. Some actually are quite innocent. But others are designed to see how you respond to tricky questions. Others still are open ended and attempt to get you to "speak freely" about a subject.
To stay on message, ask the interviewer early on what he or she feels are the most important qualities to have in the job for which your are interviewing. Listen carefully to the answer. Then target your answers to any questions accordingly. Highlight the facts about your background and skill set that compliment those things.
It will help to be well prepared. Be sure you know your resume very well as it applies to the job description. In a great post written by my Co-Founder at A-List Solutions, Jeff Lipschultz, Interviewing is Easy…if Done Right!, Jeff suggests making a check list to bring with you to the interview:
- On the left side of your desk, put the job description (and any other company information beyond the job description—a good recruiter will have this, along with the company’s web site). Put your resume to the right. Then put a blank sheet of paper next to the resume.
- Literally connect requirements and company info on the left with the resume experiences and skill set on the right. Literally, it’s like connecting the dots with a crayon—child’s play! Hopefully, you create a complex web of connections as you may connect a requirement to several spots on your resume. And several requirements on the left may link to the same experience on the right. These connections are checklist items.
- Build your checklist by listing the requirements (and related company info) along with the best examples of your ability and experience. You should include boxes to check off as you interview. You need not write out details, as all you will need is some code words to remind you of the example(s) you want to share.
It may also help your nerves a bit to know, in advance, what some of these seemingly innocent questions are really about. Colleen Clark has a nice list of What an Interviewer Wants to Hear on Monster.com.
What motivates you the most?
They want to know what gets you out of bed – helping people, building a safe facility, developing teams, completing projects on time, implementing fair and honest practices, making people laugh.How would you describe your personality?
Mention two or three personal characteristics that you are confident about — a sense of humor, patience, supportive of others or highly versatile. Try to make them relevant to the company or position being applied to. If you have done any assessment testing, take words you most identify with out of them. Of course, prepare for this question beforehand.How do your subordinates perceive you?
Stick as much as you can to work-related skills that you know they know you have. Interviews are not personality disclosing interrogations; they are to ensure you have the skills and fit to do the job. Say you are conscientious, ambitious, tenacious or helpful.What can you offer us that other candidates cannot?
You have no idea what the other candidates bring to the table so your best answer is to mention at least two benefits you will provide: I will save the company money on…. OR I will decrease OR improve OR increase OR implement…
What is the most demotivating work environment for you?
This question comes in the back door of what kind of people or office personality do you like best? Negativity, inflexible, non-team supported or closed-door policy are safe answers and not too revealing. You can always turn that question around and say, work environments that are supportive, friendly, helpful and congenial are my favorite places to work.Where would you like to be in five years from now?
Keep in mind that you are not interviewing for any other position than the one you are there for right now. Best you say something like, I hope to still be working for the company and hopefully promoted based on my accomplishments. Telling them you want their job is not a job idea or saying that you want to start your own business, but you need some practical experience first, do not go there.What important trends do you see coming in our industry?
This is your opportunity to tell them your opinions and to show that you have read up to the minute articles or books on what’s coming down the pike.In your last position, what where the things you liked the least? The most?
Have a reserved list ready of activities or tasks that you don’t like, but really try to accentuate the positive as best as you can. Know your must-haves and flexibilities.
In summary: Know yourself, your background, and your skills. Know how they apply to this job. Ask what’s important to the manager at the beginning of the interview. Target your answers accordingly and stick to the point. This will give you the best chance to properly allow yourself to introduce…yourself.
