Interview tips

Give me your elevator pitch.

*An elevator pitch is a two-sentence description of a company or product. Before you go to your interview, write an elevator pitch about your best professional attributes. *If you are interviewing for a sales position and don't know what an elevator pitch is, then you are not getting the job. *It would be impressive to the interviewer if you were to read an elevator pitch you prepared instead of looking like you made something up off the top of your head.

How long did it take you to get here from your house?

*Anyone who is focused on details will be able to give a good estimate on how long it took them to get to an interview. *If you know the answer to this question because you drove the route to the interview the day before as part of your preparation, then that is one of the answers the interviewer is looking for. *This is another question that is looking to see how organized you are and how you prepare for important situations.

Have you ever worked on a project that failed because of your colleagues?

*Are you accountable for your work? *Focus on what you could've done better. *If others failed, mention it, but explain how you tried to support them. *Show empathy for them, like overworked or not enough resources.

Use Your Resume as an Intro to Your Website

*Build a website with more information about yourself and link to it on your resume. *If the recruiter is intrigued by your application, they can click through and learn more about you. On your website, you can include: *a longer About Me section *a portfolio *other examples of your work *pictures and video that show your life outside of work, (sports and travel) *The goal is to give a more detailed picture of who you are and what kind of employee you would be. *A professional website needs to be 100-percent professional, so keep it separate from your personal online presence. *Look at your website and ask: if I were a recruiter, would I hire this person?

Proof and Proof Again

*Check and double-check your document. *Use spellcheck. *Use tools like Grammarly to find minor grammatical errors. *Nothing beats a second pair of eyes, so ask someone to review your resume for you.

Be as specific as possible.

*Detail helps your resume to stand out and stick in the mind of the recruiter. The more detail you add, the better your resume will be. Look at each item on your resume and ask if it could be more specific. *For example, instead of saying "I did sales," say, "I exceeded sales targets by 50%." *Instead of "customer service," say, "Dealt with over 500 customer queries per day and attained high scores in satisfaction surveys." *Resumes need to be brief, so you can't add lots of details. The trick is to pick one or two concrete facts that show what a promising candidate you are.

Describe yourself in three words.

*Do you have a personal mission statement or an idea of your personal brand? Try to summarize the key words. *Focus on the aspects that are relevant to your job. Good words to use include communicative, co-operative, detail-oriented and proactive. *Avoid words like easy-going or anything that sounds unprofessional.

What do co-workers criticize about you?

*Emphasize that the criticism or weakness is something you acknowledge and that it will in no way affect your ability to perform the job successfully. *Mention a weakness that you previous dealt with, explaining how you improved upon it to demonstrate your ability to act on constructive criticism. *You'll want to avoid implying you consistently receive criticism on the job, but you don't want to imply that you are above critique.

Always Personalize Your Resume

*Every time you apply for a job, you have to go back and rewrite your resume to be tailored to the job for which you are applying. *Think of your resume to as the answer to a question. The question is "what makes you the right person for this job?" Your resume should be a resounding, "yes, I'm the perfect person." *Read the job ad. *Research the company *Figure out what they want. *Then review your resume and highlight the things that make you a great hire. *Make it easy for a recruiter to see that you are what they're looking for.

How do you remind yourself about things that need to be done in the long term, such as reports that may not be due until next month?

*Explain how you are organized and file it in the right place. *Practical tips you use help.

If you had just one hour to put together a presentation on a subject you know nothing about, how would you prepare?

*Explain how you're calm under pressure, and how you'd get organized . *Show strategic thinking (ex. I would find an expert for help in preparing.) *Could you turn it into a group discussion?

How do you react to criticism?

*Feedback is a vital part of any job, especially during the first few months when you're still learning the ropes. *Talk about how you use feedback to help you develop and grow. Professional examples are great, especially feedback from managers and customers. *Try to provide examples of times you have taken feedback on-board and made a positive change.

Dealing with Holes

*Gaps are okay as long as you have an explanation for them. *If there's something glaring, you can add a line in your cover letter to explain it. *You should never lie about gaps, but you can draw attention away from them. For example, give years rather than months when discussing your employment history. *The best thing is not to have holes. If you are long-term unemployed right now, do something to fill the time such as engaging in training or further education.

Why is there a gap in your resume?

*Honesty is the best policy, so talk about how you were unable to find a job, unavailable through illness or other reasons, or whatever the reason was for the gap between jobs. As quickly as possible, try to turn the conversation to what you were doing during that time: *What education did you pursue? *How did you try to better yourself? *What steps did you take for preparing to re-enter the job market?

What's the toughest decision you've ever faced and how did you make the final decision?

*How did you arrive at your final decision? *What's your process for weighing the options? *What was the outcome you wanted? *How did you get closer to achieving that outline? *Show a clear decision making process.

Did you have a best friend at your last job?

*How did you connect with other people? *How well do you get along with people? *If you don't have any best friend stories, how did you commit to a team? *Keep the stories professional. How did you support each other at work?

What is your personal brand?

*How might a former boss describe you? (loyal? efficient? creative? friendly?) *Find out in advance about the culture of the employer and emphasis traits you have in common. *If you're ambitious and the company is focused on growth, talk about this, and show how you are a great fit for that culture. *You can compare yourself to other brands, in order to emphasize the aspects of your character, but stay focused on talking about yourself.

How would customers describe you?

*If possible, include any real examples of customer feedback. Mention a time when a customer thanked you for your helpfulness or complimented your friendly manner. Rather than answer this question directly, move the conversation slightly: *What would you like your customer to think of you? *How do you try to achieve that impression?

Are you afraid to fly?

*If the job requires travel, then the answer to this question is important. *Once again, the interviewer will be looking to see whether or not you are paying attention. This is a simple "yes" or "no" question that requires no other details. *Do not ask the interviewer why they want to know this information. That response, in and of itself, can tell the interviewer that you are unable to stay focused on the task at hand.

What is the most annoying thing about taking orders?

*If you are an insubordinate type, then it will come out in your answer. *Be honest with this answer because that is what the interviewer is looking for. *Make your answer concise and avoid giving any examples from your past.

Give Your Resume File a Good Name

*If you are emailing your resume, the recipient will see the filename. They may save it on their hard drive and email it to other people. So the name of the file can be very important. *The filename should start with your name so that it's easy to find. Firstname_Lastname.doc is perfectly acceptable. You can add other information too, such as Firstname_Lastname_Jobtitle.doc. The recruiter may end up looking for your resume in a folder with hundreds of others, so make it as easy as possible for them to find it.

What about our company do you dislike?

*If you did your research, then you should be able to give an accurate answer that the interviewer will appreciate. *Some companies use interviews as a chance to find out how they can improve their public image. *The interviewer is not looking for you to compare their company with the competition when you give this answer.

Why did you leave your last job?

*If you haven't left yet, it's a chance to talk about why you are thinking of leaving. *Don't say anything negative about your previous employers. Even if it's justified, it will make you sound like you don't always fit in. Recruiters will favor a person who can slot into any professional environment and be a success. *Focus on things like how you wanted a new challenge or were hoping to broaden your skill set. It makes you sound ambitious without seeming like someone who hops between jobs.

Which living person do you admire the most?

*If you pick a celebrity, pick someone uncontroversial. *A family member or former teacher are good options. *He/she should illustrate your values (ex. innovative thinking? Mark Zuckerberg) *The follow-up question will be how they inspire you. What impact has this person had on you, and how have they influenced your values?

What is your most important goal in life?

*In most cases, the interviewer is genuinely curious about your biggest goal in life. It does not matter if the goal is personal or professional. *The interviewer is looking for something specific about your goals that could interfere with your ability to do the job. It is best to be honest with this answer and give the interviewer the information they are looking for. *If you have already achieved your most important goal, then the interviewer is going to want to hear the story. This is a question that helps the interviewer to learn more about you.

"How do you formulate questions in your mind?"

*In most cases, this is an upfront question designed to see how you solve problems. *The interviewer is trying to determine how you qualify information in any given situation. *It is important to keep your answer concise to show that you have a streamlined thought process.

What motivates you each day?

*Is there a part of the job you really enjoy? (helping people? completing a project?) *How does it align with their own culture and values? financial goals? (earning enough money for something shows ambition.)

What would you expect to achieve in your first six months after getting hired?

*It helps to know in advance what is expected from you. The job description should give clues, like whether you'll be expected to start producing results immediately. *In many jobs, the expectation is simply that you will complete training and become competent at your job. It's okay to say that and talk about the parts of the job you're looking forward to. *In leadership positions, you may have to give more detailed answers. For example, perhaps you hope to complete a full review of all processes in the first six months so you have a basis to start implementing improvements. It's essential that you think this answer through before the interview.

Get the Language Right

*It is fine to use big words if you know exactly what the words mean and how to deploy them. *If you're not entirely sure what a word means, take it out. Replace it with a smaller word that you're sure about. *If you are using the word incorrectly, you will just look foolish. *Even if you are sure about the word, it's usually better to use a small, simple words instead of big fancy ones. *A pavonine linguistic display doesn't make you sound professional. Clear, precise communication - that's what makes you sound professional.

If you could go back in time 10 years, what would you change?

*It's a variation on "What's your greatest regret?" As with that question, the best answer involves some kind of personal or professional development. *It's okay to talk about a failure or something you got wrong, as long as you show how you learned from the experience and tried to improve things. *Maybe you would change nothing, but try to find something. Interviewers prefer it when you engage with the question they present.

What would you do if you won the lottery tomorrow?

*It's best to be truthful. "I would invest it in my own start-up" or "I would give most of it to charity" are good answers, but they will sound hollow if they're not true. *Another reason to be honest: the interviewer may pose a follow-up question. If you say you would start a company, the interviewer will probably ask what kind of company. If you don't have an answer for that, you could look foolish.

Always Keep Your Resume Up to Date

*Keep updating your main resume, even if you're not job-hunting. You never know when the perfect opportunity might arrive and it's better if you have a resume ready to go right away, rather than having to update it. *Set yourself a calendar alert to check in every three months. You might only need a few minutes to review the details of your current job and add details of any new achievements or training. *If you change your number or your contact email, make sure you remember to go change it on your resume too. It would be terrible if you sent off the perfect resume... with your old phone number on the top.

Tell me about a time you went to the extra mile for a client or a customer.

*Know the values of the employer (Does the company focus on service? Explain how you helped others. Does the company emphasize value or efficiency? Explain how you helped customers while staying focused on the job. *Talk about what the customer needed. How did you put yourself in their shoes? *How did you decide what to do next? What were the options available to you? Did you choose the best one? *What was the benefit of what you did? (happy client? prevent loss of business? help employer avoid liability?)

Pick the Right File Format

*Most employers expect digital submissions, and they will often ask for files in a certain format. Be sure to follow their instructions precisely or they won't be able to open your resume! *The default format is Portable Document File or PDF. You should be able to generate one of these by selecting Save As... and picking PDF from the file type menu. *Another common format is .doc or .docx, which are Microsoft Word files. When you've saved the file, always close it and open it again before sending, just to be sure that it works and has the most recent changes.

Get Found by Using Keywords

*Most recruiters now use automated systems to store and process resumes. Some of these work like search engines - when they need a chef, they search for any document containing the word "chef". This is also the case on a lot of job boards. *If you upload your resume to one of these, employers will search everything on your profile, including the contents of your resume. *What keywords are employers searching for? *If they could find candidates on Google, what would they type in? *Try to figure this out, and make sure those keywords appear in your resume.

If you could work at any company, other than this one, which would it be and why?

*Name a company that you think would be a great fit for you (like helping people? Charity or nonprofit.) *Focus on existing companies. *If you only want to work there, talk about your journey (how you first learned about the company, what attracted you to it, and why it's better than all the others.)

If you could have changed one thing about your last job, what would it be?

*Never say anything overly negative about a previous employer. You must sound like a team player who thrives in any working environment. *What the recruiter really wants to hear about is something that shows you could add value. That is, a process you could have improved that would have made things run more smoothly. *It doesn't matter how trivial your answer seems. Even if it's something small, like moving the coffee pot in the cafeteria closer to the door, it shows you see issues and can apply your problem-solving abilities.

What do you think about [something currently in the news]?

*Never, ever make assumptions about someone's politics. They may seem pro-something but be vehemently anti-something. You don't want to risk causing offence. *Try to be as diplomatic as possible and see both sides. *If you have strong feelings about the issue, keep them to yourself. Even if the interviewer doesn't have a strong opinion, they may still see you as strident and uncompromising. *If you're unsure, bounce the question back and ask what they think. You can take some queues from their answer about how to shape yours.

"I'm your boss. I don't like you. I tell you that. What do you do?"

*Notice that the interviewer did not say that they would be willing to sabotage your career because of their dislike for you. That is important, because they want to hear that you would go about your day and do your job to the best of your ability. *Most companies want employees to point out parts of the managerial system that are broken. *The interviewer wants to hear your solution to a potentially heated workplace situation.

Would you prefer to work in a small or large company?

*Of course, you should tailor the answer to the company. Research the company before the interview and find out about them. *In general, it's best to lean toward small companies in your answer. Even in a big company, you'll usually find yourself working in a small team. The ability to connect with a small group of people is a big plus for any candidate. *You can also dodge the question slightly by saying you don't care about size as much as you care about company values, culture and mission statement. If you know the company values, you can discuss those too.

Tailor Your Resume to the Job

*Read the job description carefully. What is the employer looking for in terms of skills, qualifications and experience? Are those highlighted on your resume? *Save time by having two or three versions of your resume that emphasize different abilities, such as a tech resume, a project management resume and a customer service resume.

"Tell me about someone who is more successful than you and why you feel they are successful?"

*Remember to put this into a business context and avoid childhood heroes or friends you admire. *As with all of your interview questions, keep this answer concise.

What is your impression of our corporate culture?

*Research before applying. (Read their website. Check social media. Talk to other workers you know.) *If you haven't, talk about what you know and see around you. (Friendly? Intense activity?) *Focus on the positivity. What makes you fit in?

What do you think is the future of this industry?

*Research the job properly before the interview. *Give measured answers based on what you know. Don't be too speculative. If you can quote an article you read recently, talk about that. *Most industries face some kind of automation or digital transformation. For example, most retail has already moved online, and retail stores usually have a web presence too. If you have any thoughts about how technology will affect the industry, you can talk about that.

Would you work for a boss younger than you?

*Say yes to questions like this. Of course, you should be willing to work for any boss as long as they are qualified. *A question like this may touch on age, gender, race, religion or sexuality, all of which are covered by anti-discrimination legislation. Don't say anything discriminatory, even as a joke, since employers take discrimination very seriously. *If you have examples of a similar working scenario, share them. It's a good way to show you're a team player first and foremost, and that you don't let anything distract you from the job.

Does your Resume Need a Summary?

*Summaries are essentially filler. If you have enough work experience and education to fill the page, then stick to that. *Your cover letter can include any information you would like to discuss in the summary. *Summaries can be useful if you are new to the job market, or you're making a massive career change. *Keep it short and sweet and explain how you have arrived at the current point in your life. *Mission statements are rarely of use. Employers really only care about the company's mission, and they expect your goals to align with theirs.

Refresh regularly

*Take out the time to update your resume regularly. (It may be wise to set a goal to review it every quarter. Use this time to include any great results or milestones you've attained at your current job.) *Also, freshen it up with new community service experiences, skills or continuing education you've undertaken since the last update.

What's the thing you're most proud of?

*Talk about yourself outside of work. What makes you feel pride? (ex. achievements/volunteer work) *How do you push yourself to achieve in areas other than work? *Demonstrate values and ethics. *Pick an example that shows who you really are.

I walk into a bar and you are sitting at a table by yourself. What happens next?

*The answer to this question starts with finding out what the company policy is on employees and managers associating outside of work. *Do not read into this as being an attempt to find out if you frequent bars. That is just the scenario being used in this case. Some interviewers will use other situations such as restaurants, libraries, or grocery stores. *Sometimes indicating that you would act like a decent person in a social situation can go a long way in a job interview.

"Who was your favorite elementary school teacher and why?"

*The idea here is that everyone has a favorite elementary school teacher if they paid attention in elementary school. *A person's attitudes and work ethic are formed early in life, and the interviewer wants to hear about the person who helped to shape yours. *A keen mind is a great tool in the workplace, and the interviewer will be concerned if you cannot remember elementary school.

Tell me three things you did not do to prepare for this interview.

*The ideal responses would center around basic interview preparation tasks such as shining your shoes or getting a haircut. *A boring and safe answer is perfectly acceptable. *If you have built a rapport with the interviewer at this point, then a humorous but appropriate answer would be effective. This question is not designed to reveal anything significant about your personality.

Who do you talk to when discussing where to draw the line between work time and family time?

*The interviewer is looking to see if you are a team player or a loner. *Many companies want their employees to put family first; that is why this question is starting to become popular. *Do not feel like you have to give details about your home life to answer this question. The interviewer would prefer an answer that is general in information but adequate in description.

"Why do you think your resume appealed to me compared to the others?"

*The interviewer is trying to find out if you purposely put information that was pertinent to them at the top of your resume. *Talk only about the information on your resume and not its physical attributes. *The interviewer is looking for a well thought-out answer here to show that you put some effort into getting the interview.

"Do you use a GPS when you travel?"

*The interviewer wants to know how you use the tools around you to get things done. *Some companies want employees who embrace technology and this is a question used to determine how comfortable you are with devices. *Your answer to this question will help the interviewer to better understand how you solve basic problems such as finding someplace you have never been.

What was your biggest failure?

*The real question here is, can you learn from your mistakes. The interviewer wants to not only learn about failure but also how you recover from it. *When talking about failure, don't blame anyone else. This reflects negatively on you. Talk about what went wrong, why it went wrong and why you wish it had turned out differently. *In the second part of your answer, talk about how you dealt with it. If you lost a race, did you start training harder? Ultimately, this is a question about positivity. Can you survive tough times and keep striving for success?

Why do you not have [particular educational achievement]?

*The trick to this question is figuring out why it was included. If it's relevant to the job, try to move the conversation toward the experience you have that makes you qualified. *If it's more general, talk about how other commitments got in the way. Talk about how committed you have been to other aspects of your life. For example, if you dropped out of college to have kids, talk about how you've been focused on providing for your children ever since.

"Who is your favorite superhero?"

*This is a question designed to see if you will fit the company's corporate culture. *There is a purpose for this question, so treat it seriously. *Notice that the interviewer did not ask you why a particular superhero was your favorite. This is done on purpose to see how well you pay attention to detail.

"Explain to me the proper use of a managerial hierarchy?"

*This is an attempt by the interviewer to see if you are willing to bypass broken parts of a system to get things done. *The interviewer wants to see how much you know about their company by asking you to discuss its managerial structure. If you have an inside contact with the company, this would be a good chance to show off the research you have done. *If you have managerial aspirations, it will show up in your answer to this question.

"What kind of car do you think I drive?"

*This question is designed to determine your response to uncomfortable situations. *Some interviewers like responses that are clever and show quick thinking. Responding by saying "I would think a financially responsible person such as yourself would take the bus" will show the interviewer that you consider all possibilities. *In a job interview, there are going to be several questions used to see how well you think on your feet. You need to be ready for anything, especially a question like this.

What did your boss say in your last performance review?

*While you want to focus on the positive elements, you should keep it realistic. If your last boss is your reference, the interviewer may call them to confirm some details. The last thing you want is for your old boss to disagree with your version of events. *If you've never had a performance review, talk about similar meetings you've had, like a meeting with a teacher.

Have you ever had to do something that you believed to be unethical?

*Why do you believe it to be unethical? (breaking law or regulation? caused a customer to be treated unfairly? Violated your personal sense of right or wrong?) *What did you do? How did you stand by your principles, even if standing up to a manager and finding a solution?) *Professional examples are best. Can you be trusted with the right choice? How do you identify the right ethical choice?

Have you ever failed to meet a goal? What did you do to catch up?

*You can admit failure, but don't choose something that makes you look incompetent. *How did you handle fixing the situation? Give a process improvement implemented yourself.

What do you think it takes to be a leader?

*You could mark yourself out as a potential leadership candidate by giving a thoughtful answer about what it takes to run a team. Study the subject in more detail if this is of interest to you. Recruiters also want to know what you expect of a leader. Reasonable answers include: *Good communication *Support through training and development. *Examples of great leaders are always welcome. This can be a former boss, a teacher or even a parent. How did they offer guidance and support to you?

If you're working on two very demanding projects, how do you prioritize?

*You probably have some experience, but if not, how do you prioritize when studying or dealing with household chores? *How have you faced this before? *Explain how you list tasks you need to do. Then ask questions like:what would happen if it were late. *Would it cause issue for someone else? *Can you move the deadline? *How do you manage daily tasks without getting overwhelmed?

You see a teenager take a candy bar from a mom and pop store and start to walk out the door. What do you do?

*Your best response is that you would alert the store owners to prevent theft. *Avoid giving a lengthy answer to this question as it will show that you are unable to make a quick and focused decision.

What will you do if you don't get promoted within five years?

Talk about how you would communicate with your boss to ask about your future. Examples are always helpful.

"What do you like most about social media?"

*A simplistic question like this is used to see if you are able to see things in ways that most people do not. *Social media is a time killer in offices all over the world and the interviewer is trying to gauge how social media may affect your productivity at work. *Social media can be used to find news stories, products for sale, and a lot of other things that would require some time to find. The interviewer is trying to see how well you maximize even the most basic tools.

Is it okay to bend the rules if it's the best thing for the company?

*How do you know what's expected of you? *How would you find an ethical solution to each problem?

Say you're back from vacation and find 1000 unread emails. How would you deal with them?

How do you organize? *Do today. *Do this week. *Do someday. *Information only