Posts tagged interview questions

Tell Me About Yourself

Oct 22nd

Posted by Ethan Pang in Job-hunting Tips

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When an interviewer ask the question, “Tell me about yourself,” they are not really asking you to tell them about yourself.  Recruiters don’t give a hoot where you were born, what interest you have, why you selected your university or how and where you got your first and subsequent jobs.  They may listen to these responses from you appropriately just to be nice but they really don’t care.

Instead, an employer only wants to know about you in relation to themselves and the job.  If where you were born and bred means that you have a good network of contact in the location that vital to an open position, then they care about where you grew up.  If your first job is a direct parallel to a role they may have for you, then they want to know about it.  Their interest is not about you, but rather the link between you and the job you are applying for.  Therefore, your primary objective isn’t to talk about yourself in general but rather to make the relevant connection between you and the position.

Also, your answer to “Tell me about yourself” can and should be different depending on who is asking the question.  Afterall, you want to establish rapport with the interviewer. There are many facts about you so you can still be truthful and at the same time being selective with presenting relevant and valuable information.  Select those facts that highlight and strengthen the connection between you and the interviewer.  This of course implies that you know something about the interviewer and the position (yes, you must do your homework before appearing at the interview).  Then you can pick specific stories and examples that parallel the skills and experience you are expected to have.  You can and should also highlight the interests that demonstrates that you are motivated for the right reasons.  You should never be there to talk about yourself. What you must do is to reveal the various compelling reasons why you are exactly what they need.

Here’s a question parallel for you to unravel the question disguise:

“Tell me about yourself” = “Tell me why I should hire you instead of the 50 waiting outside”

“Tell me about your interests” = “Why did you apply for THIS job?”

“Walk through your background with me” = “Convince me that you are relevant and will be an asset for me”

Everything you say must promote and further your suitability for the job.

Always keep in mind that the interview is about filling a position and as such, no question is asked that is separate from the job.

If you were a flower, which would you be?

Dec 1st

Posted by Ethan Pang in Job-hunting Tips

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Does this sound like a queer question to you? Well, it is to me.

If you are in an interview and you were asked this question, what would you say?

I hope your answer would not be “WHAT??!” or “HUH??”

You see, there are a handful of interviewers out there who choose to ask extraordinary questions like this one instead of the usual “Tell me about yourself” and “Why did you apply for this job.” The purpose is simple – to see how you react and respond.

Remember that there are no right answers to such questions. So, there is no need to worry about whether your answer is the perfect one or not. The key element that will be watched by the interview will be the way you think on your feet and if you can come up with an interesting answer with good reasons.

So, it is not sufficient to just say, “I would be a Sunflower.” You should go on to explain why you made this choice. You would also elaborate on your qualities and attributes that would mirror that of a sunflower. For example, “I would be a Sunflower because I have consistantly been told that I have a very bright and cheerful personality. And that whenever people are with me, they feel joyful and happy. I am also one who focuses on the positive side of things just like how the Sunflower constantly faces the sun and reflects its brilliance. I am also one who would contribute to my team and the community-at-large just like how Sunflower oil is healthier than vegetable oil. I am also able to work independently with minimal supervision just like the little water that a Sunflower needs.” (And give a bright smile with this)

Here’s another unconventional question for you: “How many ping pong balls you fill a BOEING 747 with?”  How would you answer this one?

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Interview like a Champion

Sep 30th

Posted by Ethan Pang in Job-hunting Tips

1 comment

Having conducted training over the years, I have noticed a trend in the attendance of two particular workshops – Resume-writing and Interview.
 
Guess which workshop will often be better attended?
 
Answer: The resume-writing workshop.
 
The general approach to making decisions for most students I know is often focused on the short-term. This means that they make decisions in order to fulfill a need that is visible within the next 2 weeks to 3 months.
 
I call this SHORT-SIGHTEDNESS.
 
The resume-writing workshop is well attended mostly because of internship or job application deadlines that are looming on the horizon. Participants just want to learn the necessary tips and tricks quickly, doll up their resume and send off their applications as fast as possible.
 
This seems typical of our current “microwave” mindset – what we want we want it fast, we want it now if not yesterday.
 
Let me ask you this question: Which gets you the job: The resume or the interview?
 
Answer: The interview.
 
NOBODY gets hired based on their resume.
 
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that you don’t need to develop your resume-writing skills. You must write an attractive resume AND, at the same time, excel in your interviews. But most people don’t think about preparing for interview until they are called for one. For too many people, it is too late.
 
You see, understanding what an interview involves will actually allow you to craft your resume better. If you are well prepared for any interview, you will most definitely write an attractive  resume because you will then know how to sell from the very first word in your resume.
 
So, how well do you interview? Do you interview like a champion who already has the job? Or do you interview like a job beggar?
 
Interviewing like a champion demands that you know what to say, what to ask, and how to act during the session. An interview is a meeting to discuss a business problem and so, you must know how to behave in a professional manner which helps solve THE problem.
 
I’ve structured several issues of Jobscope to explore specific important interview questions, the first of which is here:
 
“Why did you apply for this job?”
 
How would you answer this question?

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