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Girls, I need interview help!
I **know** this has been asked a million and one times but I have an interview tomorrow for a promotion and I could really use some good tips!
I also would like to get some ideas from you as to what to say when they ask the dreaded question of strengths/weaknesses. I know that it should be something you put a positive spin on, but can you give me some ideas as to what I can say?
Thanks so much!!!!
Mel~
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Girls, I need interview help!
I would sit down and look at it from an employers perspective. When they ask what your strengths are, be able to list a few things that you did that either a) saved the company money or b) made the company more money.
I don't know what industry you're in, so it's hard to be more specific with it.
In terms of weaknesses I've seen people cite being 'too detailed', or having a difficult time completing a task due to perfectionism. You could also state something that doesn't inspire you and wouldn't be included in the promotion... for example, if you didn't like putting together mailers and that's part of your current job but wouldn't be part of the new job if you earned the promotion you could say "It's hard for me to be driven to put together mailers, they just don't inspire me, but I dont know that I'd consider that a weakness"
Well,
Be honest, first of all, and do your research on what the role requires. Then bring up examples of your past experience (work/education/personal) that directly address the responsibilities of the job and show why you're a good fit.
In terms of strengths/weaknesses, these are very personal, so you know what those are for yourself. It's important to site examples. When you talk about your weaknesses, the example should be of what you're doing to get better.
Think of also ways you would improve the company/business/etc, if asked, so you can demonstrate you have vision on how to keep the place going.
Good luck!
Photo by Zemya Photography
Here are my general tips:
1. Be a good listener. I like to break the ice by saying that I would like them to tell me about the job in their own words because in my experience, sometimes there is a difference between the job description posting and what they are actually looking for. It gives me a chance to hear what they are looking for and find examples of own background to use to sell myself of why I would be good for the job.
2. Speak in turn. After they are done talking, explain why you would be a good fit. Use examples of things that they were looking for and how your background relates.
3. Never try to pass off something that you don't know. It is far better to say, "I'm not familiar with that but I would love to learn," then to try to BS your way through an answer.
4. Always leave a positive spin to everything. Like saying, "I don't know.." follow up with, "but I would love to learn." You just went from being a downer to a go getter in a few words.
5. Weaknesses! Tell a story with a positive ending. I like to use an example of a challenge that I'd face on the job and how I liked to do something positive to overcome it. Like maybe I don't have knowledge about everything so I go and collaborate with others. See... you went from weak to smart in one fell swoop.
6. Ask them a question. My favorite is, "What are the biggest challenges or frustrations that you face on the job." It gives a lot of insight to the company culture.
7. Don't research your interviewers in advance and tell them about themselves. Someone did this to me when I was interviewing them and I was skeeved out by it. Nothing says, "I'm a stalker," more than this. The interview should be about you and how you can work for your employer and nothing else.
8. Dress to impress. It is far better to over dress (with a formal suit) than it is to under dress.
9. Great everyone with a smile and a handshake. Make sure to smile when possible.
10. Always thank people for their time. It is good to slip in a subconscious message like, "I look forward to hearing from you again."
11. Follow up with a thank you letter.
I think you got some excellent tips already so I'll only add a couple of my own. From the classes on interviewing that I designed, here are the biggest mistakes that interviewees make:
1) They don't read the posting well enough.
2) They aren't prepared to talk about their experience and HOW it will relate to the new job. (Meaning, what have YOU done that matches with what the interviewer is looking for?)
3) They don't know their own resume well enough - and don't pull out the best examples to share.
4) They ramble....almost everyone does this because they are nervous. It's human nature.
For success:
Take a look at the posting and highlight the most important attributes. Being a govt job, it should have an "essential qualifications" list (or something similiar). Go through that list and be prepared to talk about what you've done (and what personal skills you've used) to either develop that SKA or how you've used that skill to grow and expand your knowledge base.
Many times interviewers will want to hear that you are a continuous learner - that you strive to continually learn new things and grow. That you are a project person (govt jobs are famous for this)...that you can multi-task...and accomplish things/meet deadlines. That you are a people person (if the job requires it)...and HAVE an example of HOW you are a people person.
Smile.
Be yourself....admit if you are nervous.
Ask the question "is there anything that I haven't answered that perhaps you still need to know?"
For the weakness question - so many people use perfectionist as their weakness - try not to overplay it. Choose something that's true about you but spin it so you can put a positive light on it. (e.g. I used to be a perfectionist....but I've really realized that although in most cases being a perfectionist can be a good thing, it can also be a detriment. Take when I handled xyz project (CONCRETE EXAMPLE). When we worked on the project plan, it was really important to be detail oriented and a perfectionist. But when it came to the group work sessions, it was more important to brainstorm and get the ideas out rather than have a perfect powerpoint presentation or the perfect handwriting on a flip chart.)
If the job has a management component (either of people or projects), be sure to toot your own horn not only about your organizational skills but how you manage the people part too. Throw in some language about communication and how you know every person has their own communication style and that it's important as a supervisor/manager/project mgr to recognize how that person communicates and match your style to theirs.
Good luck Mel! I hope that you get this promotion!!!!
Wow, you've gotten some great advice. I would add - think of a few anecdotes that are examples of things like:
Succeeding at a project you didn't enjoy or wasn't your strength
Working with difficult people
Having to please different stakeholders with conflicting needs/desires
Getting things done on a tight timeline
Having to disappoint a stakeholder/client
Again, the goal would be to make all of these examples of how you turned a potentially difficult/negative situation into a positive. If you have a few stories in your mind, when a question comes up in the interview you can grab one and go with it, rather than having to go nuts coming up with something in the heat of the moment.
I have one story from a job several years ago I still bring up at interviews now... it always works and gets a very positive response, and since I've used it several times now I am very comfortable telling it.
Awesome advice! This will impress most every time!!!