CV & Resume

Team work Interview Questions with Answers

Being honest and humble is one of the most important traits that you would require in your professional life, right from while you are handling the interview to even further in your professional life.
To evaluate this, you will be asked several questions that are related to your previous teamwork experience:

1. Give us example when you were part of a team. What was your role in the teamwork? How did you contribute to this task group? How often did you interact with other team members?
Choose a team (or a task group) that you had been assigned to or a teamwork that you had participated in your previous job and describe a leading project.
Make sure that your answer is a crisp and quick run through of your task group participation and gives the interviewer a broad idea of your value addition and job execution as a team worker.
You may include: the way the team monitor tasks and duties for achieving the project goals and how you’ve effectively interacted with other team members on a constant basis to achieve these goals.

2. Have you ever had an experience where there were issues or strong disagreement among the team members? What did you do?
It goes without saying that there is no team, either personal or professional, that has not faced some problems and disagreement among teammates.
However, when working on team in the workplace, each team member is not only responsible for his tasks but also responsible for the progress of the team goals as a whole. The employer would want to find out these qualities in a team player.

Therefore, you can answer this question:
“I have had some instances where there has been some kind of strong disagreement among my team members. Usually, I do not pay attention to the issue for the first few days, because I have faith in the professionalism of my team partners.
However, if the problem is not solved over a period of time, I make sure that I speak to any and all the team members who are involved in the issue, and try to iron out an amicable solution with dialogue between them.”

3. Have you ever been a project leader in a team? How did you handle/face issues?
Being a project leader in a team is a position full of responsibility as it that gives the employee a chance to achieve his professional ambitions.
Therefore, the candidate should be sure that a sense of responsibility is sent across in the reply:
“As a project leader, I have had a varied experience of dealing with project issues. Whenever I have faced a problem that requires a solution, I collected the data related to the issue, figured out the causes, consulted with team members for solutions and when having a neutral view of the issue, I have tried to resolve it in such a manner that I will continue keeping a keen eye on the problem solution and the betterment of the product.”

4. Tell us about your experience working with peers. How did it go? Have you ever faced difficulties and disagreements?
While team players are supposed to be work in harmony, it is a fact that they can have issues with other team members, who are basically their colleagues.
If you have had issues with other teammate, it is best to tell the truth to the employer and to explain the situation honestly.
The best way to answer is:
“I have had an issue with a peer [give an example], like it is common in a professional workforce. However, I have always endeavored to solve the problems, without the repercussions coming up, or even other team members. I always believe that conversation is the best way to solve any issues, and I have always had dialogues with any peer who has had an issue with me. I consider his point of view and the project goals before I take the conversation ahead.”

5. Have you been a team leader? Describe your role as a team leader. Tell us about the challenges you faced in trying to resolve issues among team members. What could you have done to be more effective?
A team leader is basically the leader whom everyone looks up to, so as to be the one who would lead effectively the team projects and ensure that the team moves smoothly and progresses, taking the company that they work for from strength to strength.
Therefore, describe an effective team leadership work.

Moreover, a team leader has several responsibilities other than just their core abilities to churn out work.  One of the most important responsibilities is to keep the team together and help them weather even the greatest of problems. If you are a team leader, it is your responsibility to handle the team and solve the issue without any repercussions or bad blood between the team members.

If asked such a question, here is the answer that you can provide:
“As a team leader, my responsibility is to achieve the highest productivity for the company within the given resources. Therefore, I have to ensure that all the resources that I am provided are always at their optimum performance. So, I have to ensure that any issues that my team members face are resolved without any losses to either the company, the product that is being currently worked on.
Most of the times, I speak to the team members who have  a problem with each other individually as well as a team, so that all the issues are ironed out immediately. “

Of course, the most important aspect of an interview question answer should be that the answer is realistic and factual.  If you have been a team leader or project leader, it is well and good and you should reply whatever the fact is. If you have not been a team/project leader, you should simply tell the interviewer that you have not had the chance to lead a team as yet.

Interview Answers To Behavior-Based Questions About Teamwork

What I’m trying to help you with is your ability to TALK about your teamwork competenciesusing examples from your own personal work experience.

What is teamwork?

Some definitions:

• Encouraging and facilitating cooperation and trust.
• Fostering team spirit, commitment, and group identity.
• Working with others to achieve shared goals.

What are the qualities of a true team player?

RELIABLE

Other people can count on you.

 

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATOR

You can clearly express your ideas in a direct but respectful way.

 

 

ACTIVE LISTENER

You listen and try to understand different perspectives. People can give you constructive feedback without you getting defensive.

 

PARTICIPATES

You show up prepared. You contribute to discussions and activities.

 

COOPERATIVE

You work with others to get something done, always focusing on the productive solution and outcome as the goal.

 

FLEXIBLE

You are able to change or adapt when you need to try something new based on the feedback or direction of others.

 

COMMITTED

You give your best effort and you are responsible to the goals of the team.

 

RESPECTFUL

You treat other people with consideration & courtesy.

 

Example Teamwork Interview Questions

“Provide me with a recent example of how you worked outside of your normal routine to accomplish a team goal. Were you challenged to learn a new skill? … and if so, how did you go about learning it, and how did you apply this skill to help the team project?”

“From past two jobs you’ve had, can you describe a situation when you were faced with a challenge that at first appeared impossible to accomplish but then was possible when teamwork was applied? … What methods or strategies did you use to help the team accomplish the goal?”

“Tell me about a time when a teammate of yours was not doing her part. What did you do? … What was the outcome?”

A Tip For Forming Your Answers:

I’m sure you are already familiar with the STAR Statement formula: Situation / Task, Action, Result. What I want to point out to you is a good way to begin your accomplishment statements.

In answering their questions, start by defining who you are and “what you like to do” in certain situations. Try beginning your answers like this:

“I’m the type of person who ______________.  I like to ______________.”

“I’m the type of person who will lend a helping hand whenever needed. I like to support my teammates. SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION …”

“I’m the type of person who tries to understand why people might be underperforming, then see what we can do as a team to help them get back up to speed. I like to help other people so we can all be more effective in reaching team goals. FOR EXAMPLE …”

“I’m the type of manager that keeps team spirit high by offering incentives and surprises. I like to think about things I can do to keep up morale and support group performance. AS A FOR INSTANCE, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION …”

Opening your answer with “this is who I am, this is what I like to do” allows you to define yourself for the interviewer. Continue with explaining the situation / task / problem, then explain the outcome or result:

“… So in the end we:

… were able to deliver on time because we worked together as a team.”

… decreased the cost of the project by 47% because we leveraged the abilities of the team instead of using a vendor.”

… got back on track as a team because of my communication plan for clearly stating the deadlines and the quality standards for deliverables that were ready to ship.”

 Now here's what you can do to prepare:

1 Understand what "teamwork" really is, and memorize the above qualities that make a good team player. These are good words to use in an interview. 2 Write down your accomplishment statements related to teamwork, and try starting them with "I'm the type of person who ..." 3Practice your STAR Statements! .

Answering Behavioral Interview Questions: Teamwork

The latest in our ongoing series on answering common behavioral interview questions.

Are you a team player? You better be able to prove it.

All job seekers should be prepared to answer behavioral interview questions (“Tell me about a time…”) about working on a team.

Based on my experience consulting with both hiring organizations and job seekers, I can tell you that teamwork questions are the most common of all of the behavioral interview questions.

This is probably because the ability to work with others is considered critical for most positions — from entry- to C-level.

Most hiring managers want to know if you’re a good team player before they commit to working with you every day. By asking a behavioral question, they are giving you the opportunity to demonstrate your team skills by sharing a relevant example.

Behavioral Interview Question — A job interview question that seeks an example of how you’ve demonstrated specific competencies in the past. These questions usually start with “Tell me about a time…” or “Give me an example of…”

Teamwork behavioral questions can be general:

• Tell me about a team project that you worked on.

• Describe a project that required input from people at different levels in the organization.

• Share a rewarding team experience.

You may also get questions that focus on how you’ve handled a challenging team dynamic:

• Tell me about a time when you worked with a difficult team member. 
(This one is a favorite of hiring managers and you may also want to read our post on answering behavioral questions about managing conflict)

• Give me an example of a team project that failed.

Sometimes, you may be asked specifically about experience leading a team:

• Tell me about a time you stepped up into a leadership role. (A future post will give you additional advice on how to answer all types of leadership questions)

All of these  teamwork behavioral question offer you an opportunity to showcase how well you collaborate and what a joy you are to work with. You can ace these questions with just a little bit of preparation.

Why Interviewers Ask About Teamwork

Most jobs require you to work with other humans. Before hiring you, a smart manager will want to find out:

• Are you easy to get along with? 
• Do you collaborate well? 
• Can you communicate effectively with different personalities? 
• Can I handle seeing you in the office every day without strangling you?

Some jobs come with specific teamwork challenges:

• Can you deal with difficult personalities?
• Do you know how to push back diplomatically when necessary?
• Can you mediate disagreements?
• Can you motivate people to perform?

You should always review the job description carefully to try to understand what “teamwork” is likely to mean in each role.

At a managerial level, team leadership may be the focus. At a fast-moving startup, they may be looking for people who can pitch in and play many roles. For an entry-level position, it may just be about the ability to get along in a professional environment.

You will want to choose an example that demonstrates the most relevant aspect(s) of your team experience.

It is particularly important for new grads to be able to speak convincingly about their teamwork skills. Early in your career, you probably don’t have a strong professional track record to talk about.

Therefore, the hiring manager will be hiring based on potential demonstrated by academic, extracurricular, and internship experiences.

In the interview, they will be trying to get a sense of what you would be like to work with.

How to Answer Behavioral Questions About Teamwork

We’ve all had team experiences — on the job, during school, in a volunteer or extracurricular role.

Before your next job interview, sit down and make a list of the significant team projects that you remember.

Start by listing every team experience that you can think of, even those that don’t stand out as particularly impressive. Give yourself a little time to brainstorm before you narrow down the list.

Here are some rules for choosing the best examples to share in your interviews:

1. Recent is best. Your most relevant examples will be from the last year or so. It’s okay to go back further for a story that’s particularly impressive or relevant.

2. Be a hero. Pick an experience that really allowed you to shine. Maybe you stepped up to solve a problem, resolve a conflict, or bring the group together. Maybe you helped to achieve spectacular results (brought in revenue, reduced expenses, delivered a high-profile project).

3. Keep it relevant. For each interview, review the job description to get a better understanding of the type of collaboration required (see above). Then pick the most relevant example you have. It will serve you well to prepare a few examples that represent different types of team projects.

4. Go for added value. If you can, choose an example that shows off your team skills while also demonstrating other strengths. For example, pick a story that also highlights your leadership talents, your numbers acumen, or your sales expertise.

5. Use the STAR format to structure your story. We recommend also reading our article Behavioral Interview: Tips for Crafting Your Best Answer for more advice on how to use the STAR format to structure and focus your team stories. Remember: The goal is to jot down bullets to create a story framework, not to memorize a script.

Sample Answer — STAR Format

Now we’re going to share an example answer to show you how the STAR format can be used to structure a compelling team story.

We’ll start with an example answer for a general behavioral question about teamwork:“Tell me about a time when you worked on a team.” (Note: Keep reading to see how this general story can be adapted for answering questions about working with difficult team members)

S/T (Situation/Task)

– Give a little bit of background information to help the interviewer understand the context of the project (and just how important/impressive/difficult it was).

Example Situation/Task Bullets

• At Bank XYZ, we were preparing to roll out the new release of our online corporate banking platform.

• My role was to manage the communications to customers about the new release, which involved coordinating with dozens of people from Technology, Operations, various Product areas, Customer Service, and Marketing.

• This particular release included a major new reporting feature that customers really needed — so it was important to get it right.

Why We Like Them

With these bullets, we get a basic understanding of an obviously complex project. It would be easy to go off on a tangent about different aspects of the banking platform, the release process, and/or the team dynamic.

However, you want to keep your S/T concise while still giving a sense of the importance and scope of the project.

Tip: Think about which details are most important in explaining the project’s back story. Remember that the goal is to keep the entire answer to 1-2 minutes and you’ll want to spend more time on the A and the R sections (which are more about YOU than the S/T is).

A (Approach)

– Talk about the key actions that you took. For a team story, the focus should be on working happily and productively with others.

Example Approach Bullets

• Unfortunately, the developers ran into technical problems with the new reporting feature that was supposed to be the centerpiece of the release. In order to make the release date, they had to scale back and offer only limited functionality. We knew that some clients would be disappointed.

• It was my job to get everyone’s input on how to communicate it to customers — and I had to do it quickly because the decision was made right before the release date and we wanted to give customers the courtesy of a heads up.

• After a lot of back and forth with the engineers and the senior people in Product, Customer Service, and Marketing; I drafted the announcement to customers. I emphasized the positive aspects of the new functionality, explained the delay, and layed out the timeline for the full functionality.

• I also had to work with the group to quickly put together talking points for our Client Account Managers and revise all of the training and Help documentation.

Why We Like Them

This piece of the answer really focuses on teamwork and how the candidate collaborated with and managed people across the organization. There is just enough detail to get a sense of what the candidate did and why it was impressive. He also shows that he was able to work under pressure, communicate diplomatically, and meet a tough deadline.

Tip: Make sure that you are playing up the “team” aspects of the project. Who did you collaborate with? What steps did you take to make the team dynamic work? At the same time, look for ways to mention other strengths that you demonstrated.

R (Results)

– A strong interview story always has a happy ending. Wrap up your answer by describing the positive results of your actions.

The outcomes can be quantifiable (reduced processing time by 50%, brought in $50K in additional revenue) or anecdotal (The client told my manager that I was fantastic, the CEO said my presentation was impressive).

Example Results Bullets

• I was able to get sign-off from all of the stakeholders within 24 hours — a minor miracle that required a lot of persistence.

• We were then able to communicate strategically and proactively to clients before the release went live.

• The release communications were positively received by clients. Though some were disappointed with the limited functionality, many more were pleased with the benefits of the feature in beta version and appreciated the timely and clear communications.

• I received nice kudos from the senior managers in Technology and Customer Service — they told my boss that I was invaluable in keeping everybody focused on the customer experience and making the tight deadline.

• My manager was so happy with my performance that I was promoted to Manager level primarily as a result of my work on this project.

Why We Like Them

Any story that ends with a promotion is a winner! With these bullets, the candidate also describes positive feedback from clients and senior-level team members.

Tip: Pick a story with a dramatic ending. It’s not always possible to end with a promotion or a big-money new account.

However, you want to show significant results. Don’t settle for a weak ending like, “So we finished the project and it seemed to go pretty well.” Yawn.

Customizing Your Teamwork Story

But what if your interviewer puts a specific spin on her teamwork question?The most common variations ask about dealing with a challenge or a difficult team member.

The “difficult person” question is pretty common. It would be smart to prepare an example that includes a difficult team member as part of the plotline.

The STAR example above could be customized pretty easily to work as an answer to a “difficult person” question.We would simply incorporate the following bullets into the A and the R sections:

A (Approach)

• Unfortunately, I had trouble getting feedback and final approval from my main contact on the Technology team.  I knew that he was busy preparing for the release, but he seemed to be blowing off the customer communication piece as unimportant. He was significantly senior to me and kept dodging my calls and emails.

• Finally, I had to push and let him know that the communication would go out as it was at 9AM if I didn’t hear from him before 6pm. I was bluffing because I knew I had to get explicit sign-off from Technology, but it worked.

R (Results)

• He sat with me for five minutes and gave me a few small changes and then his approval.

• Later, after his boss praised us all for a job well done on the customer communication, my contact thanked me for being persistent. And from that point on, he always returned my calls right away.

Remember: As always, practice makes perfect. You will want to choose your example, jot down the key elements of the story in STAR format, and then practice delivering your answer (without your notes in front of you).

This will help you remember the key details and present them in a polished, confident, but natural way.

What are your thoughts on teamwork interview questions? What other behavioral questions would you like us to break down for you with an answering guide? We want to hear from you.

Interview Mail Reply

Whenever a job seeker receives a letter from an employer on an interview for a job opening, it is always prudent to reply and confirm on availability.The response should be concise, clear and professional.

1 It is always important to start off with a formal salutation. Male recipients should be addressed as "Dear Mr." while female recipients should be addressed as "Dear Ms." These salutations should be followed by the last name of the recipient.In case you are not certain about the gender of the recipient, you should call the company to inquire.

2. Take the time to read the email invitation clearly. As you read, take keen interest in any question you regard as important as you will need to answer the question when responding to the invitation.

3. Mostly, the question in the invitation may be one that you need to respond to with a 'yes' or 'no' based on your availability for the interview. If you will be available for the interview, you need to respond with vigor: 'Yes, I would very much like to attend the interview' or 'Yes, I can be available for the interview' will suffice.

4. Before you send your interview mail reply, you need to go through the email one more time to see if there are any other questions you need to respond to. Once you confirm that you have addressed all questions in the email, remember to thank the recipient for the information they have availed and assure them that you will take the time to learn more about the company before the interview date.

5/ Once you have answered all questions, you need to close your interview mail reply with a strong statement. You can say that you are looking forward to the interview day and the chance to interact with them more or to learn more about how you can be of help to the company with regards to attaining their goals.

6. It is very important to close the letter formally. You can use either ‘sincerely’ or 'sincerely yours' to close your letter. After this line, leave a space and type your full name. Read through the email before sending to correct any typing errors.

Part 2: Samples of Interview Mail Reply

1. Subject: Interview Confirmation – (Your Name)

Dear (name of recipient),

I take this chance to thank you very much for inviting me to interview for the Account Analyst position. I really appreciate the opportunity and I look forward to meeting with Edie Wilson on June 30th at 9 AM in your Quincy office.

If I can provide you with any further information prior to the interview please let me know.

Best Regards,

(Your name)

2. Subject: Interview Confirmation – (Your Name)

Dear Mr. /Ms. 'Name'

I would like to take this opportunity to attend the interview for the post of (name of post) in your company (name of company) on (date) at (time).

I am looking forward to discussing my qualifications for the position, and also for the opportunity to join your team/staff.

Thank you for your consideration and time. I look forward to meeting you.

Regards,

(Your name)

3. Subject: Interview Confirmation for the position of Senior Accountant

Dear Sir,

I’m writing to express my gratitude for giving me the opportunity to interview for the post of (post applied for) in your organization. I would like to confirm that I will be attending interview scheduled for (date and time).

I’m delighted about the interview and I can promise that I will exploit the opportunity to the fullest.

I will be able to present my abilities and personal traits and get a better understanding of your organization's mission and values.

As requested, I will bring along my certificates, detailed CV, complete application form and any other necessary documents. Should you require conveying any additional information before the date of the interview, you can call me on my cell no. (Telephone number).

Thank you again for the opportunity to demonstrate my capabilities. I'm looking forward to meeting you.

Yours Sincerely,

(Your Name)

Confirming an interview

The way you interact with recruiters and hiring managers is just as important as your skills and qualifications when you’re looking for a job. The manner in which you handle verbal and written communication is likely to be an integral part of the job, so demonstrate proper etiquette in all responses to the company: from  the early stages through the selection process.

Take the opportunity to make a good first impression by being professional and considerate when you confirm interview appointments.

Email Response:
Thanks to technology, you can usually respond immediately, or at least quickly, to an interview request. Check your email frequently, and answer all requests as soon as possible. If you receive an email on your smartphone, send a message saying,

"Thank you for your invitation to interview with ABC Company. Yes, I am available on Tuesday, September 4, at 2:00 p.m. I'm in a remote spot now and will send another confirmation once I get back to my home office." 

To make sure the recruiter knows you're responding remotely, you can add a signature line saying the message was sent from a mobile phone.

Tips for Email Etiquette

Phone Response:
If you receive a telephone call asking you to confirm your interview appointment, try to answer the call personally when it comes through. In a pleasant voice, thank the recruiter for the interview request and tell her you are available at the scheduled time. If you get a voicemail, call back and say,

"Ms. Smith, thank you for calling to schedule an interview time. I'm sorry I wasn't able to take your call, but I'm available to interview with you on Tuesday, September 4, at 2:00 p.m., and I look forward to seeing you then."

Use the recruiter's name when you call and pick a time when you won't be interrupted or have noise in the background.

Alternative Time:

• If the day and time the recruiter offers for your interview isn't convenient for you, consider rearranging your schedule to accommodate the recruiter's. 
• Tell the interviewer that you appreciate the invitation and you're looking forward to meeting with her, but that you have a scheduling conflict. 
• You can say that you may be able to rearrange your schedule, but that you need a few hours to do so, or you can suggest alternative dates. 
• Always try to make it easy for the recruiter since you're the one looking for a job.

Timeliness:

• Recruiters don’t have a lot of time to wait for you to confirm an interview time, so the sooner you can get back to them the better.
•  Often interview slots are first come/first serve, so you want to be as prompt as possible to get an interview slot that works best with your schedule.

Appreciation:

• Express your appreciation for being selected for an interview. 
• There may be hundreds of applicants, depending on the job, who have applied for that same position. The fact that you were selected says that you have strong qualifications for the position. 
• It also means that the recruiter extended you a courtesy in inviting you to interview with the company, so make sure you thank them.

Psychology tips, tricks, and techniques

Some few points on interviews:

1. Ambiance 
 "First impression is the last impression". Suppose if you went for a sales job and the ambiance of that premise is not good your brain will automatically help your internal enthusiasm on higher or lower scale and your performance got affected.

2. Job Perspective 
This factor has always helped me in getting my job done. In any interview where ever you have been thinking of applying  or being selected. You should try to gather some internal information about that company progression and your role. So if in case you are interviewed then by mentioning there research either in your resume or in CV you could leave a psychological impact that you are one of those skills which they are desiring. Their you have started nailing about a new job.

3. Be Open For Discussion
 This is an easiest way to make your interview panel convince that you are open  for discussion like salary, time-shift and office location etc.  After when you are got selected you can manipulate the team by showing some little constraint in some non-desirous options. This point is because every company has some hopes and some limitations. So by answering in that way you are passing that ball in their court that you could be hired and their are no strings attached.

4.Going into an interview...be interested in your interviewers.
 If you focus on learning about them you seem more interesting and dynamic. (Again, people love to talk about themselves.)

5.Pay Attentions to details of your Interviewers.
Pay attention to your interviewers dress and office environment. Suppose if he is wearing a casual dress where most of the interviewers are in formal then these people are looking for something different then the requirement who like multi-tasking type of job . So if the person is just opposite then that person is confined to the requirement and he can't be bend or can give any push until you perform to his expectation.

6. Facial Expression of the Interviewers
If your interviewer is always moving his head while you are answering then he is least interested in you and the probability of getting selected in low now. If his eyes got stuck on you then he is expecting more from you what you have delivered. If by every answer he looking on his PC or on your CV then he is done with the interview and he is just want to play with you or to explore about u Likewise, if his eyeballs instead of looking you he looking somewhere else then he is either not paying any attention in depth. If in case you are not sure about your answers then you could take some shots.

7.Fake it till you make it; confidence is more important than knowledge.
Don't be intimidated by anyone, everyone is playing a role and wearing a mask.

8. Show Street Smartness
Don't let your interviewers play with you. Instead you play with them like giving them a ideal trailer of your problem solving and client building approach with easily faking your previous experience. As no one is going to esquire about you  what were cooking you previous company.

9. Don't mentioned any references about you in that company.
As it has always either psychologically or professionally backfired you.

10. Consume Glucose before the Interview.
Before or during the interview if you are nervous about the data, facts and figure or it require you to remember without any help. Then drink water with Glucose or consumes as much glucose before it. As our brain need oxygen for it neurons to work sharply. So by consuming glucose will directly give your body a ample amount of glucose which will be actively release the oxygen in your blood other then the breathing and immediately electrify your brain cells without any damage. They will help you a lot.

11. Presentation is the secret my friend.
You might be having ample amount of knowledge but it is of no use until you know the way to present it. To be able to present something in an orderly way you must practice doing so. Now by practice I mean that try to write the points and practice answering the expected interview questions. In this way you’ll be prepared thoroughly to present your thoughts in the interview.

Secrets, Tricks and Tips in Face-to-Face Interviews

Here are some tips, tricks and secrets that may help:

Research the industry, the company and the players.

• Find out everything you can about the place, their business, their products, their position in their industry, their reputation, their competition, their financial stability and the key decision-makers who work there. 
• Study the company’s website, take notes and jot down questions related to their business that you can ask at the end of your interview. 

Research your interviewer

• Find out everything you can about the person that will be interviewing you. 
• Try to find a bio on the company’s website. 
• See if there is a bio of your interviewer in the personnel listed on the professional business databases mentioned above. 
• Do a Google Search on their name and see what comes up. Look their name up on LinkedIn and check out their profile there. 
• Prepare brief stories about your past accomplishments and experiences that illustrate how you provided value to your past employers and by inference, how you would bring similar value to a new company. 
• Be ready to tell your stories and demonstrate with details how you fit each and every requirement they listed. 
• Try to work those stories into your conversation in a natural way during your interview.
• Print out and bring a few copies of your résumé with you.

Dress for Success.

• Jacket & tie or a suit for men, conservative business suit for women, no flashy jewelry  & absolutely NO perfume or cologne!) 
• Pay attention to grooming and personal hygiene (hair, nails, breath, etc.) 

Be on time – not too early, and NEVER late!

• Make sure you know exactly where you are going. 
• Verify the exact address and location that you are to meet your interviewer. 
• NEVER be late! But, also do not show up more than 5-10 minutes early. (That is disrespectful to the interviewer, and actually shows desperation.) 
• If you do arrive too early, sit in your car and re-read the job description and gather your thoughts. Don’t go in until it’s close to your appointment time. 
• On the other hand, if you do find yourself running late due to unexpected circumstances (severe weather, traffic problems, etc.) make sure you have a phone number with you that you can call to alert your interviewer about your delay. 

Have a Firm Handshake.

• How you shake hands says volumes about your personality
• Practice on someone you trust if needed. You want it to be firm, but not so tight that it feels like you are trying to break bones! 

Smile!

• Remember to speak clearly, and try to convey enthusiasm and energy through your tone of voice. Smiling helps (really, it does!) Smile as much as possible during the conversation. 
• Try it, you actually sound very different when you talk through a smile.

Make Eye Contact.

• Make sure you make eye contact with your interviewer. 
• It’s OK if you have to refer to notes, or read something 
• Be conscious of where your eyes are focusing, and meet your interviewers eyes as much as possible (without going overboard by staring!)

Pay attention to your posture.

• Sit up straight in your chair
• Do not slouch or lean back. From time to time, a good trick is to lean forward towards the interviewer. 
• When speaking, leaning forward transmits the message that you want to emphasize your point. 
• When listening, leaning forward transmits the message that you are fully engaged in active listening. Also, don’t chew gum!
• Mirroring the vocal cadence and body language of the interviewer.

Use the “Nuggets” technique to establish rapport.
“Nuggets” are all those little things that you can pick out about a person or a company that you can make a positive comment about, compliment a person on, and use to connect on a personal level with the person you are talking with.

Projecting a Positive Attitude is a critical key.
Concentrate on projecting positive energy and enthusiasm.
Try to express passion for your work, a sense of humor, and a genuine aura of optimism.

Questions: Tell me about yourself.”

•  Answering that is pretty basic, and also fairly critical, not the message you want to give! Also, don’t give an autobiography of your entire life 
•  Keep your answer focused on your professional profile as it relates to this job and this company. 
• Be prepared to give an expanded version of your “Elevator Pitch” in which you give an overview of your most recent and most relevant career experiences, and your professional goals. 
•  Remember to use your prepared stories if you can. 
• However, don’t let this answer go on too long (under 5 minutes)

Be a good listener, and never interrupt.

• Any good interview is a 2-way exchange of information.
• Let the interviewer talk and lead the discussion without interrupting. 
• Listen carefully, and then give thoughtful answers. 
• Answer questions directly and completely, but try not to go off on tangents or “over-talk” your answers. 
• It’s better to give a brief answer, a
• While talking, pay attention to the body language of your interviewer and watch for signs of boredom – fidgeting, looking at their watch, etc. – and cut yourself off if you see them. 
• Don’t bring up salary or benefits

Prepare a list of questions you can ask.

•  Some suggested ideas for general questions are: “How long have you been with the company, and what do you like about it?”
•  “How would you describe the company culture here?” 
• “What characteristics have made your best employees successful here?” 

At the end of the interview, clarify the next steps.

• If you are interested in this job, make sure to say so! (“I just want to let you know that I am very interested in this opportunity, and hope we can move forward. What is the next step?”)
•  Don’t leave without determining what the expectations are for the next steps, and how and when YOU should follow-up. 
• Ask what their timetable is for hiring, and how their hiring process works. 
• Also make sure you get a business card with the email address and phone number of your interviewer, and send them a thank-you email that same day.
•  If you met with more than one person, get everyone’s cards and do the same with them. 
• Then immediately make a note on your calendar of when your pro-active follow-up call will be if you don’t hear back from them first. 
• If you really want this job, don’t just sit back wait for them to make the next move. You have to go after it!

Smart Answers to Common Job Interview Questions

One of the most common questions in an interview is “Tell me about yourself.” Actually, it is not even a question--it is an invitation. It is an opportunity to share with the interviewer whatever you think is important in their hiring decision.

More importantly, it is your chance to differentiate yourself. In most cases, most of the standard questions allow the same.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
Employers don’t necessarily care to hear that you expect to climb the corporate ladder and be a supervisor. If the job you’re interviewing for is not a supervisor, they probably aren’t concerned about your management skills.

• You can share how you’ve been a mentor to others and led projects with little to no supervision. That should indicate you have leadership potential.
• Focus on them: In five years, you should have made a significant impact to the company’s bottom line. 
• Think about how you can achieve this in the role you’re interviewing for. In technology careers, advancing your skills is important, too. 
• You should be able to share what areas you want to strengthen in the near term (but be careful that they are not areas of expertise that the company needs now).

Why should we hire you?
This is a differentiation question. What you want to tell them is: they'd be crazy not to they hire you.
Focus on them:

• You need to not only share how you meet almost all the criteria they seek, but also have two to three additional abilities that they might not even know they need…yet. 
• They need to know you are a candidate who can meet their needs now, but also be valuable for where they want to go. Are they likely to need another skill set as they grow as a company? 
• Or maybe you have skills that you noticed are in another job description they are looking to fill; 
• you can help out with those deliverables until they find someone (or be a backup to the person they hire).

Why do you want to work here?
The answer to this question has two aspects: the content and the delivery.
Focus on them:

• Content -- Employers want to know you feel you can fit in at the company quickly. That means on deliverables, but also company culture. You’ll likely have to do some homework to answer this one. You need to understand the reasons why others enjoy working there. Is it a great place to advance your skills, have great challenges to add to your resume, or will it allow you to grow as a professional?
• Delivery -- The delivery must be genuine. If a hiring manager feels you’re just “telling them want they want to hear,” but don’t mean it…well, the interview is over in their mind. They want to know this is not just a job and paycheck. They want to hear this is what you want to do and the best place to do it.

What do you know about us?
This is actually a test. If you know very little, it is an indication that you are not very serious about working there.
Focus on them:

• Candidates who are really excited about the prospect of working there have done their homework. If you really want to stand out, learn more than what is listed on their web site.
•  Do some heavy research—perhaps find some articles on the company that not many would know about. 
• It may even come up in conversation spontaneously, and you can show them a copy of the article (I have had this happen to me).

How do people describe you?
Here’s another opportunity to differentiate yourself. Everyone claims to be: a hard worker, good communicator, and team player. But how many are a: problem-solver, game-changer, leader in the industry? Be creative, and have stories to back it up. The interviewer will want to know why someone thinks you are one of these things.
Focus on them:

• You want to present attributes that make you sound like the go-to guy or gal wherever you work. Even the standard answers can be taken a step further to be more valuable:
• Yes, they want hard workers, but most likely that’s commonplace at their office. Maybe you work hard, but also help others work fewer hours (by helping them do their job better or making their jobs easier).
• Good communicators are everywhere. But this doesn’t mean just speaking well. It includes listening. Do you hear things that others don’t? Do you understand things quickly? Can you figure out what people are trying to tell you through other clues (body language, for example)?
• Being a good team player is expected, too. But what does this really mean? Getting along with everyone? That’s not hard to do if you’re a nice person. Pulling your weight in the office? Again, expected. What have you done, beyond your job description, that saved the team from a disaster or helped them make an impossible deadline? Have you won an award for this?
• What is your greatest strength/ greatest weakness?

Your greatest strength is something they need.
Focus on them: You have many strengths, but pick the one they need help with the most. Is it your expertise in a particular skill? Is it your ability to turn low-performing teams into high performers? Share something that makes them think they need to hire you…right now.

I hate the “greatest weakness” question. Everyone knows it’s a trap, and everyone knows the candidate is going to say something trite (popular example: "I’m a perfectionist"). When you give a real answer, you are being genuine. You are admitting you have some growth opportunities and are not perfect. But you can include that you already have a plan to overcome this weakness through training or practice.

Some people even insert a little humor in their answer—“I wish I was better at tennis.” You can, too, if you feel like the interviewer has a sense of humor. But, be sure to quickly follow with a serious answer. Showing you have a lighter side is usually a good thing.

When can you start?
Be careful about this question for a few reasons. First of all, it doesn’t mean you “got the job.” They may be just checking to add that to their notes. You must keep your guard up until you are in your car and driving away from the interview.

If you are currently employed, you should be honest about the start date and show professionalism. You should tell them you would have to discuss a transition with your current company and see if they require a two-week notice. If you currently have a critical role, your potential new employer would expect a transition period.

If you can start right away (and they know you are not currently employed), you certainly can say you’re able to start tomorrow. Sense of urgency and excitement about starting work at the new company is always a good thing.

Common Mistakes

 Many candidates sabotage themselves with avoidable mistakes.

Lack of preparation —

• Don’t try to wing it. 
• You should take the time to prepare your 3-4 bullet points and look for opportunities to customize for any new opportunity. 
• Then, you must PRACTICE delivering your sales pitch until it feels comfortable.

Modesty — This is not the time to be modest or self-deprecating.

• You must be ready, willing, and able to talk about what makes you a great hire. This will require some practice if you are naturally a bit modest.
• You don’t have to be super-confident like the candidate in the video example above. 
• You can use your own style. If you’re not comfortable making value statements about yourself (i.e. “I am the perfect candidate.”), you can stick to fact (“I have ten years of experience, got promoted, broke the sales record, won the award, delivered on time and on budget, received kudos from my manager/client, etc.”) 
• Another way to “sell” yourself with facts is to quote other people’s opinions. 
• Quote your manger, “My manager told me that he’s never seen anyone with more advanced Excel skills.” 
• You can also reference your general reputation: “I have a reputation for always closing the deal” or “I have a history of always completing my projects ahead of schedule.”

Being too general

• Do your best to add some personality to your answer. 
• Don’t simply rattle off the bullet points listed in the job description. 
• Really think about what makes you unique and express it in your own voice.

Talking too much 
Remember the law of answering interview questions:

• You should limit each answer to 1-2 minutes in length (not counting any follow-up questions or requests for additional detail).
• If you try to walk through your entire resume when answering this question, the interviewer is likely to tune out.
• Focus on your most compelling selling points. 
• Keep in mind that you’ll be more believable if you focus on a few strengths and don’t try to claim that you are a master of every business skill imaginable.

To deal in any job interview.

How to close the deal in any job interview.

After all, the whole interview process is about answering this question: Why should we hire you instead of one of the many other well-qualified applicants?
Every interview question is an attempt to gather information to inform this hiring decision.  Many interviewers will also specifically ask you to make your case with one of these questions:

• Why should we hire you?
• Why are you the best candidate for the job?
• Why are you the right fit for the position?
• What would you bring to the position?

To close the deal on a job offer, you MUST be prepared with a concise summary of the top reasons to choose you. Even if your interviewer doesn’t ask one of these question in so many words, you should have an answer prepared and be looking for ways to communicate your top reasons throughout the interview process.

Why Do Interviewers Ask This Question?

The interviewer’s job is to hire the best person for the position. Most of the candidates that make it to the interview stage are qualified for the job. The winning candidate must be more than qualified, especially in a very competitive job market.
Every hire is a risk for the company. Your interviewer will also be taking a personal career risk in recommending a particular candidate to hire. If the candidate performs well, Mr. Interviewer looks brilliant and gets a pat on the back (and maybe a bigger annual bonus).
If the candidate turns out to be a dud (doesn’t perform well, doesn’t get along with the team, leaves the job prematurely, etc.), the interviewer looks like a dummy and his professional reputation suffers.
With this question, your interviewer is asking you to sell him on you and your status as the best person for the position.

Make his job easier by convincing him that:

• You can do the work and deliver exceptional results
• You will fit in beautifully and be a great addition to the team
• You possess a combination of skills and experience that make you stand out from the crowd
• Hiring you will make him look smart and make his life easier

 How to Answer: Why Should We Hire You?

• This is your chance to wow them with your highlight reel. 
• Your answer should summarize the top three or four best reasons to hire you. 
• It’s better to have three or four strong reasons with memorable descriptions and/or examples than to rattle off a laundry list of twelve strengths without context.
• This is an opportunity to reiterate your most impressive strengths and/or describe your most memorable selling points, tailored to align with the top requirements in the job description. 

Your 3-4 bullet points could include a combination of the following:

• Industry experience
• Experience in performing certain tasks or duties
• Technical skills
• Soft skills
• Key accomplishments
• Awards/accolades
• Education/training

Accomplishments and success stories are always good bets, especially if you can describe how a key accomplishment (a successful marketing campaign, for example) demonstrates a desired competency (creativity, results-orientation).

One approach is to mention any unique combination of skills(s) and experience that you possess.
 For example, many candidates may have strong programming skills, but what if you combine those with team leadership experience that others don’t have? Sounds like a great recipe for a senior programmer. Explain why in your answer.

Most job seekers should be able to develop a standard answer to this question that can be customized a bit for each opportunity.
Here’s how:

Step 1: Brainstorm
To get started, review the job description (or a representative job description if you don’t have an interview lined up right now) and your resume and ask yourself these questions:

• What are the most important qualifications for this position from the company’s perspective?
• In which of these areas do I really shine?
• What are my most impressive accomplishments?
• What makes me different from the typical candidate?
• Brainstorm and jot down everything that comes to mind.

Step 2: Structure Your Sales Pitch

• Next, choose the 3-4  bullet points that make the strongest argument for you. 
• Use those bullet points to structure your sales pitch. 
• Don’t write a script to memorize — simply capture the bullet points that you want to convey. 
• Each bullet will describe the selling point with a brief explanation and/or example for context.
• Keep it concise — you still want to keep your answer in the 1-2 minute range so you won’t be able to rattle off every skill and accomplishment on your resume. 
• You have to really think about what sets you apart from the competition.

Step 3: Practice
Once you feel pretty good about the points you want to make, it’s time to practice. Again, it’s not a good idea to memorize a script — you can end up sounding like a robot or feel more nervous because of pressure to remember specific wording.

• The better approach is to capture your bullet points, study them, and then practice until you feel comfortable talking about them off the cuff.  Your answer should come out a little bit different each time, but it should always cover the points that you want to make.
• Remember: It’s also very important to come across as confident and enthusiastic when you deliver your pitch.
• Make them believe in you — your abilities and your commitment.
• If you project confidence (even if you have to fake it a little), you’re more likely to make a strong impression. 
• As for enthusiasm, keep in mind that true passion for the work required is a pretty compelling selling point. Yes, experience and qualifications are important, but the right attitude can definitely give you an edge over those with similar professional backgrounds. After many years of experience in recruiting and hiring, I’d rather hire someone who has a little less experience, but who is driven and motivated to learn and succeed.