There are laws made to protect you when you are on a job interview. These laws limit what can and should be asked during the hiring process. Some of the main ones are about Race, Religion, and age. Here are a few that you might not have given a second thought to:
- Are you pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant in the near future
- Do you have children?
- Are you presently serving in the National Guard?
- Do you smoke or drink alcohol?
- Do you have any chronic illnesses?
- Are you married?
- Where were you born? or What is your national origin?
- When did you graduate from high school?
- Are you a U.S. Citizen?
Employers ask these questions to try to gauge whether you might be taking extra time off of work. If you have children then they might get sick often. If you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, then you might not come back to work. If you are over 55 years of age, then they might think you will be retiring soon. Asking what year you graduated high school is a round about way to figure out how old you are. Always try to sway the conversation off of these questions. If they ask whether you are a U.S. Citizen, you can respond that you are authorized to work in the United States. Never be confrontational as that might eliminate you from any chance of getting the job.
Most job interview questions can be handled stress-free with a little preparation. The questions asked are usually the same for most interviews. They are prepared by so-called professional firms.
One question you will definitely be asked is: Why you left your last job?
Be as honest as possible but do not speak ill of your last company. This question, though important, is about what you did for the last company. This company wants to know what you will do for them now, which brings us to question number 2.
What are your goals? Goals, aims and objectives are the same thing. The company really wants to know what you can do for Them. This means your goals should parallel theirs. At the top of your resume you should have your objective with a couple of follow-up sentences for clarification pruposes.
Your answer should be something that sounds like it will add to their bottom line. It is fine to explain how you want to excel and get ahead; this means the company will prosper too. An example is that you would want to be the best salesperson ever. This means more money for you and them.
How long do you want to be with the company?
This is simple. You want to make their company your final step in your career ladder and grow with them.
Sometimes a psychology major will ask a question of what animal you would like to be, if you had to be one. Just answer this to the best of your ability. It is a meaningless type of question meant to throw off your focus.
You are ready to land your dream job but you must get through the interview first! Interviews can be nerve racking so if you want a successful interview make sure to follow these simple rules: arrive on time, dress appropriately, have knowledge about the company, have a list of questions to ask the interviewer and practice answering questions.
First impressions do count. When introducing yourself appear confident and assured. Offer a handshake and say “hello my name is so and so and I am here for the interview”. Once you are seated and ready to be interviewed, the interviewer will ask what you can bring to the company and what your personal goals may be. Always answer with enthusiasm and be truthful. Make sure to completely listen to what the interviewer is asking and do not ever interrupt. Organize your thoughts. When asked about strengths and weaknesses, answer honestly. Everyone has a weakness, no one is perfect plus honesty helps your credibility score. When explaining your weaknesses make sure you mention that you are currently improving your weaknesses and have learned from them.
After you are finished answering the interviewer’s questions, the interviewer will normally ask if you have any knowledge of the company. You will need to study the company in advance for this. Use the internet, public library or even speak to current employees. Lastly, you will be asked if you have any questions. This is also another important factor that you must be prepared for. Avoid asking questions about vacation time, salary and benefits. Interviewers will automatically think you are only interested in the position for the money and not for the qualities you bring to the company. A great example of a question to ask the interviewer is “what does my job duties involve”? Once all the questions on both sides are answered, shake hands with the interviewer again and thank them for their time.
After the interview is over you should always send a follow up “thank you” letter this will show that you are extremely interested in the position and it help’s gain the interviewer’s final attention. All you can do now is wait for that phone call letting you know you landed the job!
During an interview process for employment, many interviewers will ask what your strengths and weaknesses are.
When you are asked about your strengths you will not want to sound like you are too full of yourself. Of course you must let him/her know what strengths you can bring to their company so just be honest and give him/her a few of your good traits. Some examples of these may be that you are hardworking, dedicated, committed, self motivated, determined, successful, goal orientated, intelligent, self confident, pocess leadership skills, and are team player. Just pick a couple of these examples and elaborate on them to the interviewer.
Answering the weakness part of the strength/weakness question seems to be a bit more challenging for people to answer. People do not really want to point out their weaknesses to the interviewer because they are there to impress the interviewer and not the opposite. People also worry that if they say that they have no weaknesses that the interviewer will see them as arrogant and cocky. You must give an answer to the question though if it is asked and what you will want to do is throw out weaknesses that can be converted into strengths. The answers that you should give to this question will sometimes depend on the type of job you are interviewing for. For example you might want to tell an interviewer that one of your weaknesses is that you get to nervous around people but have been working on it and plan to conquer it. This answer may not be good though if the job you are going for is a job with constant and continuos contact with people. Another answer that you might want to consider is that you are a constant debater, again use of this answer will depend on the kind of job your are going for. If you lack some skills let the interviewer know about it, there is no person that has all the skills in the world for everything and the interviewer will appreciate your honesty.
How to avoid job interview clothing mistakes?
Career development coaches recommend that for an interview, applicants should dress for the job one or even two levels above the position sought. Don’t automatically reach for the most formal or nicest outfit in your closet: choose interview attire that is appropriate for your industry and what you might expect your boss’s boss to wear.
If you’re applying for a job as a server at a chain restaurant, your boss’s boss would probably be the restaurant manager. Pick an interview outfit that a restaurant manager would wear. This would likely be something that is attractive and professional-looking, but also something that is practical to wear when on your feet all day and working around food. A nice-looking sweater and slacks and sturdy shoes would be an appropriate choice: a “dress-for-success” wool suit and dress shoes would not be.
However, if you were applying for a job as a data entry clerk at a law firm, your boss’s boss would be the office manager. The atmosphere at most law firms is professional and conservative. An office manager would wear a suit and dress shoes, not khaki pants and sturdy shoes.
Research the general industry and the specific company structure in order to be prepared and to make the best impression possible. Let your attire demonstrate to the interviewer that you understand the industry and that you are ready to move up in the company!
To summarize – Dress Like Your Boss’s Boss To Get The Job. This simple rule will help you to avoid job interview clothing mistakes.
More job interview tips on our Job Interview Questions and Answers website.