Game Plans for Work & Life

Note to readers:  Interview questions as a blog topic, will end with this one, at least for awhile. If you have specific questions, send a COMMENT and I’ll reply to you individually. We’ll shift focus next week to other work and life planning topics.  Thanks for reading and stay tuned, Joyce  

“GOTCHA” QUESTIONS

Over the past month, we’ve looked at various types of interview questions. Here is the final set.  They represent the type that can make an interviewee say under their breath “Why me?” Try your luck with these and see how you fare.  Remember, the more practice you get, the more comfortable you’ll feel in the “hot seat.”  It’s like that old truth, “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?”  Practice, Practice, Practice!

 1. What’s your calling?  Hint:  It may have nothing to do with your past or current job; find a way to answer the question that aligns with your talents and the job you’re seeking.

2. In what circumstances do you withhold your value, rather than expressing it?

3. Tell me in which ways you are unique.

4. What adjectives would you use to identify yourself?  How would your friends describe you? Why would they say that?

5. How could you sabotage yourself on the job?

6. Where could you go wrong when it comes to salary discussion or what you’re looking for in a job?

7. What regular practices keep you at the top of your game when it comes to your career?

8. Describe an organization or an affiliation that is better off because you’ve become involved with them?  Explain where they were, where they are now and the difference you made.

9. In what kinds of situations can colleagues count on you consistently?

10.  How do you generally handle criticism?

11.  Tell me about an assignment or project you worked on that failed? After that experience, what did you learn?

12.  Describe a career instance where you made a mistake and learned an important lesson from the experience.

How did you do?  Keep at it and build your comfort zone. You’ll be glad you did “in the moment” when this information is needed.

You requested additional “challenging” interview questions posted before the holiday break, Try your luck with these. Keep practicing as the interview season launches again mid January. How to prepare for an interview? “Do your homework (know about the organization, find out about the job being offered, then think about why you’re the best candidate for that job, and come prepared with a few questions to ask). On the day of the interview, arrive a few minutes early, pay close attention to attire, cleanliness and grooming, be yourself,” and by all means “practice.”
Work toward a confident natural style that conveys you know what you’re talking about, you’re a team player, and you understand that change and the need to be flexible are commonplace in the current work setting. Just like the age old question, “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” Practice, practice, practice still works! Try these questions:
WORKSTYLE
-Looking back over the past year, name one thing you could have changed at your job to improve morale and your immediate work environment?
-Describe one of the most difficult work experiences you’ve encountered thus far. How did you handle it?
-If this meeting turned into your first annual review, what messages would you be hearing right now?
-How do you respond to tension in the workplace? What about tension with your boss?
-Would you be open to relocating to another work location out of state with the company?
-Convince me that your interest in this position is genuine.
-In what ways might your work be criticized?
-Describe a learning experience that impacted or changed your approach to work.
GENERAL
-Tell me about yourself. (Remember that this is not an invitation to recite your personal history but rather convey “personal qualifications (skills, selected accomplishments, traits and goals) you bring to the job in 1 minute or less).
-Describe a book or movie that inspired you and why.
-How would you handle the comment if I told you that this interviewing is NOT going well?
-Were you ever passed by for a promotion that you felt you deserved? How did you handle that situation? Even if it hasn’t happened, how might you respond?
-Describe a situation where you were given a project to accomplish but not enough information to resolve the task. How did you handle it?
-How do you spend leisure time? In what ways do your outside interests balance or match your work skills?
-Look at this table lamp on my desk. Sell it to me in a convincing way. (TIP: interviewers sometimes want to see if you get rattled or thrown off guard by a question or can you enjoy the moment and still respond confidently).
-How might you have enriched or developed yourself at your last job?
FYI: If you want to practice more interview questions of all types, I recommend “The 250 Job Interview Questions you’ll most likely be asked…and the answers that will get you hired” by Peter Veruki, Adams Media Corp., Holbrook, MA.
Note from Joyce: As we greet the New Year, “What’s one thing that you’d like to improve at work where you have some control of the situation? How can you begin to turn that vision into reality?” My best wishes to everyone for a healthy, safe, and fulfilling 2010 and let’s continue exploring these conversations and topics in the coming weeks and months. As always, I welcome your comments and for now, enjoy the “NEW YEAR” WEEKEND!