Help with interview questions please

londoner1998

musashi10 wrote: »

Hi there,

I have an interview next week.

the last time I had an interview I said some REALLY stupid things, so I would like to prepare better this time around.

The two typical questions I get stuck on are.

1. Why do you want to leave your current job?
2. What is your biggest weakness?

Does anyone have a theme or answer that is decent for these two questions?

What other typical questions should I expect?

Any help would be great

Hello

I am on the same boat and I have done about 6 interviews in the past two months, so I am very familiar with this. The question about leaving you job, in my opinion should be answered with a positive slant on it- ie, 'I have been in my job for x years and this job is a very exciting opportutinity to put into practice and develop the skils l and experience that I have developed within my current job'. That demosntrates you have developed in a role but recognise you want to develop further. Stress that this job you are interviewing for seems the perfect macth for your skills and as a next step. Thsi has worked very well for me so far.


The one about weaknesses is to test you self-awareness: if you are aware of your own weaknesses you are able to work on them. IN your answer try to turn the 'weakness' into a positive, ie, 'Iaused to find it very difficult ot say no and alway ended up burdened with work, but I worked on it and learned to say no and delegate effectively while keeping good working relationships'

Good luck.

londoner1998

sorry, I posted twice by mistake- can someone please delete?

Thanks

Sambucus_Nigra

musashi10 wrote: »

Right I spoke with the agent today.

she seemed to think it was a bad idea to cite more money as a reason for leaving.

She said it wasn't such a bad idea, in fact she said they would love it, if I comitted the cardinal interview sin and slagged off-to some degree my current work place and prasied theirs. Mainly because they are intense rivals.

Basically the company I work is on the downslide, and their company is growing fast-ours is diorgansied and keeps restructuring every 6 months to a year, there's has structure.

so I'm not sure if I should include these in the reasons or not?

What do you think?

No, don't do that. By all means say that you enjoy the sector but you feel that their company offers a more exciting proposition and more opportunities; but don't ever slag off old or current companies. Looking for new and interesting challenges is good as it makes them think that you think they are interesting.

Weaknesses; don't lie or be cheesy - I use the fact that I'm not a completer-finisher and as such, I put my own measures in place to make sure that I complete things such as having a list of monthly tasks that I tick off when done, allocating time each month to do the end of month reports and KPIs, keeping documents handy so that I can finish them off [proof read] by hand and planning for the final phase of things rather than trying to shoehorn them in at the last minute when I'm starting up new projects that are at their exciting phase.


Avoid the 'I'm a perfectionist' or 'can't say no' answers; anyone who used to put these in would get a hammering if anything that they said in the interview contradicted their 'weakness'; 'But how can you say you made that mistake if you are such a perfectionist as you mentioned earlier?' or 'How will you manage the workload that I have for you when you have already told me that you have worked on your weakness and have learned to say no - I want a 'yes' person not a 'no' person?'

musashi10

thank for the help.

So you wouldn't even use the fact that the company I work for keep restructuring and that feels unsettling? Just avoid everything negative about the company I work for currently?

I like the answer about developing further. However, in reality I have actually gone bacxkwards in my current role-my previous job had lots more responsibility and pay. Because of the economic climate I had to take a lesser job although I have still learned new and different things, much of which can be aligned to this new jop i'm after.

Regarding you haviong 6 interviews recently, firstly that is great so congratulations. I was going to ask how you get time off work to go to these?

For this one I have taken the day off, but if I have several more that would become difficult We also wear casual at work, so if I did come back into work after an interview it would look very suspicious because I would be the only one suited and booted + no times to go home and change.

A silly thing to worry about, but curious as to how other people deal with thi.

Thanks again for all your help.

musashi10

Regarding the last point I woulkd prefer just to be honest with my boss.

They have been promoising me a pay rise for the past 6 months or so, and it has never come to fruition. I'm on a lower wage than before, I'm on a lower wage than others doing similar jobs in the business, i'm on lower wages than what the industry standard is, lower than everyone else on my grade, even when I spoke to our internal recruitment guy he said the wage was too low-yet they won't bump it up-so i'm really left with the option of moving somewhere else.

I don't mean that as a moan, but that is just the reality of the situation

Not sure if its a good idea to mentionit though.

Mojisola

musashi10 wrote: »

I got laid off from a very well paid job just over a year ago. I hate not working so took, in a very difficult climate the first half decent opportunity. This was for less money - but there were benefits such as I would be learning some essential new skills and it wasn't in london, so a little less cost on travel.

I think this is a good answer. Just add that you now feel ready to move on and are looking for a position where you can put your new skills to good use.

I would never slag off the company you presently work for. Turn it round into praise for the one interviewing you - you have been looking around and have seen how progressive/innovative/etc (choose a suitable description) their company is and would love to be part of their team.

londoner1998

musashi10 wrote: »

thank for the help.

So you wouldn't even use the fact that the company I work for keep restructuring and that feels unsettling? Just avoid everything negative about the company I work for currently?

I like the answer about developing further. However, in reality I have actually gone bacxkwards in my current role-my previous job had lots more responsibility and pay. Because of the economic climate I had to take a lesser job although I have still learned new and different things, much of which can be aligned to this new jop i'm after.

Regarding you haviong 6 interviews recently, firstly that is great so congratulations. I was going to ask how you get time off work to go to these?

For this one I have taken the day off, but if I have several more that would become difficult We also wear casual at work, so if I did come back into work after an interview it would look very suspicious because I would be the only one suited and booted + no times to go home and change.

A silly thing to worry about, but curious as to how other people deal with thi.

Thanks again for all your help.

Hello
yes, don't do negative- if you talk in that way about your current company who is to say you won't do it about them if you get the job? Go for what you can bring to the job- it is about you, not about your company. Focus on contributing those skills while developing further and express a strong interest in a particular area - that's why you want that job- you are a great fit for the skills and experience and you feel you can help raise the profile- positive, positive, positive. Nobody can argue with that.

Yes, I do get time off, but so far they all have been internal (I work for a very well known broadcaster that is sheding tons of people), although it doesn't matter, as we are going through redundancy we are entitled to time off for interviews in and outside the company.

I feel your pain re: the clothes- Today I have with me a bag with my 'interview clothes ' and shoes , ready to be changed into at around 1 pm for interview in another site at three (as well as my make-up bag). I normally carry a change of clothes because like you, I am the only one who is going through this and I don't like the gossip or questioning- it is no one's business. YOu can get a nice rucksack and get changed afterwards when you go back to your current job - or viceversa.
So far my interviews have come close to it, but didn't get the jobs- although in my defence they were two pay bands above my current role so I am happy to be getting them in the first place.

musashi10

thank you all so much for your help. You have really got me focused on some of the potential replies. I think I will write some notes tonight as a general guidance for the interview (I don't want it to sound like i've memorised a load of stuff so notes for me).

regarding taking time off for interviews-what kind of excuses do you give if you don't mnind me asking?

There is only so many times you can see the dr or dentist.

I also hate lying, and my boss is good with letting me have time off, often not even marking it down as time taken off (hey I guess some of the aspects of my current job aren't so bad!)

starchild1972

Biggest weakness I used to say..Getting stupidly nervous at job interviews for no real reason and hating eye contact because I have a squiffy eye.
Still used to get the job though.

londoner1998

musashi10 wrote: »

thank you all so much for your help. You have really got me focused on some of the potential replies. I think I will write some notes tonight as a general guidance for the interview (I don't want it to sound like i've memorised a load of stuff so notes for me).

regarding taking time off for interviews-what kind of excuses do you give if you don't mnind me asking?

There is only so many times you can see the dr or dentist.

I also hate lying, and my boss is good with letting me have time off, often not even marking it down as time taken off (hey I guess some of the aspects of my current job aren't so bad!)

Hi

I get time off for interviews because they are making my role redundant, so that is the bare minimum they can do...and it is interviews, chats with people about potential roles, meetings... and they are scuh gossips in my office that I just rather not say when I am having an interview. They will find out when I am finally out of this hell hole... (and I hope it is not when I get out of the company).
How ogften do you get interviews? Unless you have a really good relationship with your manager, you might have to just take time off. In the past I have negotiated flexible times to be able to go, so I wodul stay in laters, or go in earlier... I wouldn't say what it is, I would just say it is a personal situation...

good luck with it