Common Interview Questions

With a positive attitude you see the bright side of life, become optimistic, and expect the best to happen. It is certainly a state of mind that is well worth developing. Not only it enriches one’s experience of life, but it also paves the way for self-development leading one towards attaining the desired results. As regards employment, it is a valuable thing to maintain positive attitude. Whether you are a manager or a subordinate, maintaining positive attitude in the work place brings lots of benefits while allowing you to fulfill your objectives successfully.
A positive frame of mind can help you in many ways, such as:
- Making you feel inspired.
- Identification.
- Believing in yourself and in your abilities.
- You look for solutions, instead of dwelling on problems.
- The most important thing is building relations.

When you're asked what didn't like about your previous job, don't be too negative. The reason is that you don't want the interviewer to think that you'll speak negatively about the new job or the company when you're ready to move on, if you get this job.Rather, it makes sense to talk about yourself and what you're looking for in a new role.

I enjoyed the people I worked with. It was a friendly and fun atmosphere and I actually enjoyed going into work each morning. I felt the leadership team was great as well.

One of the reasons I am leaving is that I felt I was not challenged enough at the job. As a new employee in the working world, the company offers a great opportunity for a good entry level position. However, after being there for so many years, I felt I was not able to reach my full potential because of the lack of challenge and there was no room for advancement in the company. While I did enjoy working there and appreciate the skills I developed while with the company, I feel my  skill set can be better utilized elsewhere, where my capabilities are more recognized and there is the opportunity for growth.

The people I worked with at ABC Company were top notch at what they do. Through my experience there, I learned a lot about different management styles, and strategies for maintaining cooperation in a large group project setting. I feel that as valuable as that experience has been, I am anxious to work on more specialized projects where I will have the opportunity to be more of a leader.

While the people at XYZ Company were terrific to work with, I felt that the opportunities for me there were limited by the structure and size of the company. I believe that a larger company with an international presence can offer challenges, as well as opportunities unavailable at a smaller firm. The position with your company is a great match for my skill set, and I feel that I would be an asset in your marketing (or HR or IT) department.

Interviewers expect a candidate for employment to be able to provide the details of their compensation history. Be prepared to tell the interviewer how much you earned at each of your prior positions.

Make sure that what you tell the interviewer matches what you listed on your job application. Refresh your memory prior to the interview by reviewing your salary history, so, you can speak in detail and accurately. Don't exaggerate or inflate your earnings. Many employers will check references and confirm your salary history prior to making a job offer. A discrepancy between what you reported and what the employer says could knock you out of contention for the job.

You're just as choosy about finding the right job as the interviewer is about hiring the right candidate. Don't whine or show that the search is upsetting you. If you've already fielded an offer or two,you might say

        " I have had an offer.But the situatioin was not right for me. I'm especially glad that I didn't accept, because I now have a shot at landing this position."

It's important to tell the truth, however, because the interviewer's next logical questions may be the following:

who made you an offer? For what type of position? At what salary?

If you've already lied, you're in hot water now! some interviewers will consider any admission of lying in these circumstances your "voluntary" offer to end the interview!

Many interviewers know a great deal about their competitors and which positions they're trying to fill. If you did the smart thing and told the truth, feel free to name the company.

It's important to stress that the position you turned down was very similar to the one you're applying for now. After all, if the job you are currently interviewing for is perfect for you-as you've undoubtedly already told the interviewer three or four times - why would be at all interested in something very different at the other company? 

Tips for answering this question:

No matter what kind of job you’re after, you will be asked to talk about yourself in the interview. This allows the company to evaluate whether your professional and personal qualifications are suited to the job.

This is your opportunity to make a positive impression. It’s important that you spend the time talking about your qualifications and present yourself in a positive light.

Aviod repetition and practise

This should only take a few minutes, so you must be prepared to talk about yourself and your background without trying to say too much. It’s a very good idea to write down a few keywords and follow the points you’ve thought about in advance. This will help you to avoid repetition and include all of the important details.

Always remember to practise what you want to say. You may want to ask someone you know – your spouse, partner or a friend – if they’ll listen to what you intend to say. This will let you practise your presentation and assess how it sounds.

Use the template below for your preparation:

- A little bit about your personal life

     Where you live, About your family etc.

- Work experience

     Your education and training

     Which companies have you worked for?

- Your qualifications for this job

     Professional qualifications for the job

     Personal qualities in relation to job

Leave out stories about your former boss treating you badly ,Or that because of the heavy workload and poor working environment you were off sick for a prolonged period.

All of this may well be true and be a part of your background, but keep your eyes on the goal.Talk about the positives in terms of work experience, professional skills and human qualities.

After your presentation, the company will usually ask you some questions.

Questions to expect from a head of department :

What do you know about our company?

Why do you want to work for us?

Why should we take you on?

What aspects of a job are most important to you?

Where do you see yourself in five years?

What are your pay expectations?

How flexible are you?

Questions to expect from a HR officer :

Who are you?

What are your strengths/ weaknesses?

Would you mind taking a test?

What do you understand by a good working relationship?

What do you think of your current boss?

What would your former colleagues say about you?

How is your financial situation?

How many sick days have you had in the last year?

Are you willing to take further training?

What do you do in your spare time?

How do you handle stress?

Wrong approach -
Do not say you are never under stress or I hate stress or you do exercise and meditation to take care of stress. Focus strictly on professional things that you do.

Right approach -
A good response is to say that pressure helps you focus and maintain your drive and like to handle challenges. Explain that some of your best efforts are the result of stress and pressure. Also inform that when pressure gets too intense, you know how to handle it.

Example -
Stress and pressure are a challenging part of the job and i know how to handle it. I handle it by focusing on proper planning and reporting, better time management, open communication, Hard work and prioritization.

Purpose -
This question typically is asked by the interviewer to understand if you have the skills and experience for the job.

Approach -
The primary focus of your answer should be to match your qualifications, certifications, experience and skills with their job needs. Mention key strengths and give examples that connect with the company and the job requirements.

Pre-work -
You should do detail research on the company and job posting to effectively answer this question.

This is a very common interview question be prepared to answer it.

If you're attempting to give an answer that is as unrevealing as possible, try something like this:

  " I have been a dedicated,loyal,hardworking employee throughout my career and nothing in my personal life-family obligations, hobbies, or volunteer work-has ever affected my performance. Nor would I ever expect it to."