How To Get The Job You Really
Really Want - The Interview - Yet More Questions?
Finally, one last batch of questions you may get
asked.
What are your long-term career objectives? / Where do
you see yourself in five years? / What are your long-term
aspirations?
What this is really asking is, "Are you going to be
committed to our company, and are you still going to be here in
five years?" You can really only hedge your bets here.
Something like a "Well, I feel I will really enjoy this role and I
would like to build my career with XYZ Ltd and go on to a more
senior role within the company" type answer. You will know the
situation within your industry and probably at the company where you
are being interviewed (if you have completed your preparation), so
it is worth having the answer to this one sorted before the
interview. It comes up in 99% of interviews. This question may be
backed up with....
How do you intend to make sure you meet them?
If you do
get this slant on the follow up question, the interviewer probably
wants to know what your goal setting and achievement ability are
like. Do you set yourself objectives or goals, and, more
importantly, do you follow through and achieve. The trick here is
to demonstrate some past goals you have set yourself, and show how
you have gone on to attain those goals.
Why did
you (have to) leave your last job?
Always be truthful, without being negative, about
your last role. If you were fired, come clean, the chances are the
interviewer will simply want to see how you handle the situation.
Most people have been fired at least once (yes, including
yours truly - twice!), and there are various reasons, but never
paint yourself as being unfairly treated, or as a scapegoat. You
can normally get away with something such as "organisational
changes" or "things just didn't work out". It is always worth
adding something to the effect that you hold no ill feelings and
that you learnt from the experience.
How do you think you would get along with.....?
Sometimes, in the big wide world of interviews, you
come across the hatchet man. This is one of his favourite
questions. Normally, this is a totally dominant character asking
this question. He probably knows the person he is talking about is
difficult, or he may want to know if you would have any qualms about
firing someone. The way to play this is simple. I always think the
best approach is to play the "people" card. For example, "Oh, I've
never come across anyone that I couldn't get along with" or "I see
firing someone as an absolute last resort, sometimes you have no
option, but really, a last resort".
You have had an awful lot of different jobs?
This obviously does not apply to everyone, but if
your CV does read like a who's who of British industry, you will
have to answer this question to the satisfaction of the
interviewer. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you verbatim what to say
here, because it does depend on your exact situation. However, if
you have had a lot of different jobs in a short period of time, the
prospective employer is obviously worried about your stability. It
is a major investment from a company's point of view to take
on and train a new member of staff. Quite rightly they do not want
to see that investment walk out of the door again in three or four
months time.
It is certainly true that a lot more contract or
temporary work exists these days, but you should aim to stress
stability and loyalty. Try to back up the claims with facts or
supporting evidence wherever possible. For example, highlight where
you have stayed in the same role for three or four years, or,
perhaps, how your record has improved recently. Again, you must not
seek to blame others for your constant moving around. You need to
find the positive and relevant aspects to highlight.
You have been with ABC for twenty years, how will you
cope with a change?
This is the other side of the stability coin (you
really can't win, can you?). I know a little cynical, but don't
forget, it is a bit of a game, and you have to look at it from the
interviewers' point of view. In this instance he may be worried
that you lack drive or ambition, so an idea would be to
stress loyalty. Loyalty is most definitely an asset. As
long as you can demonstrate that you were continually learning
and applying new things, and you were always growing in
your career and roles, this should be seen as a positive. It is
almost certain that if you have been with the same company for
twenty years, you will have had a number of promotions and,
therefore, new responsibilities that will clearly demonstrate this.
Stress these points, and anything else that is positive from your
experience. It is also a good idea to blow your trumpet about how
much you have learnt about the given industry during your time in
it.
Why should we choose you (rather than any one of the
other six candidates we have) for the job?
A regular on the interview question list, and it's
one that you should relish. This is your chance to show how your
skills and abilities match the job in hand. Use examples of how
past experiences relate to the job on offer, and how you have
handled relevant situations successfully. Tell all your success
stories, and, again, this is really a question to let loose on.
Give as many reasons as possible to hire you, hold nothing
back. This nearly always comes up, and you should have prepared the
answer to this one in advance.
What did you like most about your last job?
Again a question that you should have prepared for in
the light of the role for which you are applying. As always, stress
points that show you have relevant experience, and give examples
that make you seem a good choice for the position on offer. You can
also follow this up with another play of "the people" card, just to
confirm how well you "got on " with your colleagues.
Next Page -
Questions
Designed To "Get Inside" You!
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