The Website of Dr. Mark Goulston

While on the job (or internship) hunt, potential employers will throw you some real curve balls in the interview room – and your answers to these questions will determine whether or not you move to the next stage of the hiring process.

 

 

Basically, what can you provide the organization that others can’t? You must go into the interview knowing how your skills, knowledge and personality relate to the position.

 

Amanda Joyner, vice president and general manager of Monster Youth, provides an example of a good answer to this question: “From our conversations, it sounds as if you’re looking for someone to come in and take charge immediately. It also sounds like you are experiencing problems with some of your database systems. My high energy and quick learning style enable me to hit the ground running and size up problems rapidly. I’m a team player who maintains a positive attitude and outlook. I have the ability to stay focused in stressful situations and can be counted on when the going gets tough. I’m confident I would be a great addition to your team.” 

 

 

I’ve always found this question particularly difficult. It’s so open-ended you could go in a wide variety of directions with your answer. 

 

However, Mark Goulston, M.D., author of “Get Out of Your Own Way at Work…and Help Others Do the Same,” advises, “Your answer should show that you have checked out the position being offered, the company and what it seems to be trying to accomplish now. It should also show a self-awareness of your skills, what you’re great at and what you may need additional training in. Also, people are interested not only in what you know or can do, but also what you have already done that produced a positive, measurable result for someone else. Don’t talk about personal stuff unless asked specifically. And if you do, the interviewer wants to get a sense of your values, attitudes and how you spend your time.”

 

 

Again, another real stickler. I’ve been known to answer this question with “I work too hard” and “I’m a perfectionist.” While both of those statements are true, they are really just strengths disguised as weaknesses.

 

Chandlee Bryan, a career coach and résumé writer, says, “Answering questions on your biggest weakness is a delicate balance. You want to make sure that you provide candid information on areas that you could - or have improved - but you also don’t want to run the risk of being eliminated from the game altogether. Therefore, make sure you don’t present a weakness that is an integral function of the job you’re interviewing for.”

 

 

For this question, you need to know yourself, the organization and the particular interview extremely well. The only real way to be successful here is to do your homework before walking into the interview.

 

“I have researched your company and have even spoken with current employees. You have a reputation for valuing individual input while promoting a team environment – what better conditions for someone like myself to excel in!” is an example of a good answer, according to David Lewis, SPHR, regional manager of Express Employment Professionals.

 

 

I once had someone respond to this question with, “Five years is a quarter of my life so far. It’s really hard to imagine the next five!” While I understand five years is a long time for students and recent graduates, this is an important question that shouldn’t be callously answered.

 

“The reply in this case should be vague,” said Denise Anne Taylor, professional development consultant for Competitive Advantage, Inc. “For example, ‘I look forward to continually growing professionally and maintaining my skills and abilities to leverage company goals.’ If a candidate is too specific, they may state an unrealistic goal that the interviewer knows cannot be met, and therefore talk themselves out of a job opportunity.”

 

Finally, if you really want to edge out the competition, practice makes perfect. “Silently reading or reviewing isn’t enough because when we start to vocalize the words come across different than in our head or on the page. Based on how the responses sound you may want to make modifications. Also, I recommend being taped in a practice interview situation. Although it can be uncomfortable to watch later, you will identify at least one significant change you want to make that will help you be more successful in the real situation,” said Diane C. Decker, co-author of “First Job Survival Guide - How to Thrive and Survive in Your New Career.”