Types of Interview Questions

Direct Questions

These types of questions predetermine the focus of your answer. e.g. “What skills do you have that relate to this position”. Your information should be clear and specific. These types of questions, whether they relate to technical or soft skills, should be easy to answer if you have completed the research on yourself.

Non-Direct Questions

Non-direct questions are general and do not ask for specific information. e.g. “Tell us a bit about yourself”. You determine the focus of your answer. In response to this particular quesion, you should briefly summarize approximately four areas: education, experience, skills, and personal attributes. If possible, make your response relevant to the job you are seeking.

Hypothetical or Situational Questions

These questions use a problem solving approach to determine your analytical skills and critical thinking abilities. These “What if” questions are presented in the form of case examples or problem situations. You will be asked to imagine yourself experiencing a situation and will then be evaluated on how you would handle that situation. e.g. “It’s 3 p.m. and you have a report due to your manager at 5:00 p.m. Suddenly a major customer calls and says she has a crisis and need your help immediately. What would you do?”

Provide your answer in a logical sequence relating to the situation. There are many different problem solving models. The following is merely one model you could use to shape your answer:

• gather information
• evaluate
• prioritize
• seek advice (if necessary)
• weigh alternatives
• make and communicate your decision
• monitor results
• modify if necessary

Take a bit of time to think before responding. Don’t rush.

Behaviourial Descriptive Questions

Behavioural questions offer the opportunity to provide examples of past performance that may help determine future performance. Interviewers are asking what you did in a particular situation rather than what you would do. e.g. “Tell us about a time when you displayed good leadership skills.” Your answer could be delivered using the STAR model.

Situation
Task or Problem
Action
Result

For example:

(S) “While I was working at Company ABC as a shift supervisor, (T) I noticed that the over-all performance of the employees seemed to be deteriorating. (A) I decided in order to try and improve staff performance, I would start leading by example rather than speaking to individual staff members about their performance. (R) As a result of this initiative, the staff on my shift raised their customer service performance and I was rewarded with the Employee of the Month Award.”

1. Look Sharp.
Before the interview, select your outfit. Depending on the industry and position, get out your best duds and check them over for spots and wrinkles. Even if the company has a casual environment, you don’t want to look like you slept in your clothes. Above all, dress for confidence. If you feel good, others will respond to you accordingly.

2. Be on Time.
Never arrive late to an interview. Allow extra time to arrive early in the vicinity, allowing for factors like getting lost. Enter the building 10 to 15 minutes before the interview.

3. Do Your Research.
Researching the company before the interview and learning as much as possible about its services, products, customers and competition will give you an edge in understanding and addressing the company’s needs. The more you know about the company and what it stands for, the better chance you have of selling yourself. You also should find out about the company’s culture to gain insight into your potential happiness on the job.

4. Be Prepared.
Bring along a folder containing extra copies of your resume, a copy of your references and paper to take notes. You should also have questions prepared to ask at the end of the interview.

5. Show Enthusiasm.
A firm handshake and plenty of eye contact demonstrates confidence. Speak distinctly in a confident voice, even though you may feel shaky.

6. Listen.
One of the most neglected interviewing skills is listening. Make sure you are not only listening, but also reading between the lines. Sometimes what is not said is just as important as what is said.

7. Answer the Question Asked.
Candidates often don’t think about whether or not they actually are answering the questions asked by their interviewers. Make sure you understand what is being asked, and get further clarification if you are unsure.

8. Give Specific Examples.
One specific example of your background is worth 50 vague stories. Prepare your stories before the interview. Give examples that highlight your successes and uniqueness. Your past behavior can indicate your future performance.

9. Ask Questions.
Many interviewees don’t ask questions and miss the opportunity to find out valuable information. Your questions indicate your interest in the company or job.

10. Follow up.
Whether it’s through email or regular mail, the follow-up is one more chance to remind the interviewer of all the valuable traits you bring to the job and company. You don’t want to miss this last chance to market yourself. It is important to appear confident and cool for the interview. One way to do that is to be prepared to the best of your ability. There is no way to predict what an interview holds, but by following these important rules you will feel less anxious and will be ready to positively present yourself.

The Basic Rules of Netiquette:
DO NOT TYPE IN ALL CAPS. It is the email equivalent to shouting and is more difficult to read.

Refrain from formatting your email with colored text and background colors or images in your day-to-day communications.

Not all email programs support advanced colors, graphics and background stationery.

On those rare occasions where it is necessary to send a group of people the very same email, as a courtesy to those you are sending to, please list all of the recipients email addresses in the BCC field. Just as it is not polite to give out a person’s telephone number without his or her knowledge, it is not polite to give out someone’s e-mail address. For instance, when you send an e-mail message to 30 people and use To or CC to address the message, all 30 people see each other’s e-mail address. By using BCC, each recipient sees only two–theirs and yours.

Never give out phone numbers or personal information without confirming you are communicating with a reputable party.

Be cautious when using sarcasm and humor. Without facial expressions and tone of voice, they do not translate easily through email.

Always spell check your email, proofread for errors, capitalize your sentences and use appropriate punctuation and grammar.

Always end your emails with “Thank you,” “Sincerely,” “Take it easy,” “Best regards” – something and be sure to include your name!

Don’t be a novelist. Messages should be concise and to the point. Think of it as a voice mail message, except you are typing instead of speaking. It is also important to remember that some people receive hundreds of e-mail messages a day, so being respectful of their time is important.

Clearly summarize the contents of your message in the subject line. Properly titled messages help people organize and prioritize their e-mail.

Don’t write anything you wouldn’t say in public. Anyone can easily forward your message, even when done accidentally. This could leave you in an embarrassing position if you divulge personal or confidential information. If you don’t want to potentially share something you write, consider using the telephone.

You are what you write. How you communicate will be an indication as to the kind of person you are. Learn to write with clarity and take people at their word – not what you “think” they mean.

Sources: www.iwillfollow.com, www.learnthenet.com, www.getnetiquette.com, www.monster.com

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Good topics to ask about include:
The industry in which the company operates
Management style
Challenges of the company
Goals of the company

Generally, it is considered unprofessional to ask about pay or benefits on the first interview. You want to let the company know what you can do for them and not what they can do for you.

Pick your favorite 4 – 5 questions and have them prepared to ask during the interview process.
Why is this position open?
What would you like done differently by the next person in this position?
How many people have held this position in the last couple of years?
What happened to them subsequently?
Why did the interviewer join the company?
Where is the job located?
What are the travel requirements, if any?
What type of training is required, and how long is the training?
What would be your first projects?
What are the skills and attributes most needed to get ahead in the company?
Who is the company’s major competitor?
Who will be the major competitor over the next few years?
What is the company’s competitive edge?
What has been the growth pattern of the company over the last five years?
What has led to the company’s successes over the past few years?
What are the company’s biggest challenges in the years to come?
What type of support does this position receive in terms of people and finances?

Let’s face it. Few people encounter the traditional one-on-one, face-to-face interview anymore. Interviewers are able to see the candidate in the same light and can then easily share notes and thoughts about the candidate following the interview. While many job seekers find this situation intimidating and challenging, there are ways to succeed when being grilled by more than one person at a time. Here are a few suggestions.

1. Make eye contact with and speak to everyone in the room.
Although you may be interviewing with one senior team member and several subordinates, it is important to treat every member of the interviewing team with the same amount of respect. You can do this by paying attention to each individual in the room. Acknowledge the individual who asks you a question first, but then vary your eye contact from person to person as you give your answers. Keeping all parties involved in the interview will demonstrate that you are a team player rather than someone who only wants to make a good impression with the “top dog.”

2. Try to read and respond to different personality types and responsibilities.
It’s no secret that humans like to talk about themselves and tend to be more satisfied when they feel their needs are met. You can often figure out what kind of relationship the interviewers have with each other just by being observant and listening to the information between the lines. Once you have done this and have figured out who plays what role and what each individual’s personality type is, you can then speak to these different personality types in a subtle way.

3. Take them one at a time.
Remember that, even in a panel interview, you are being judged by individuals with different thoughts and feelings. Each person will have his or her own agenda and the more you can pick up on those agendas, the better you can use them to your advantage. For example, a human resources manager might want to learn about how you work in a team environment, while a department manager will want to know more about specific skills and capabilities. Make sure your answers satisfy the needs of all the interviewers in the room.

4. Be prepared.
There is no substitute for solid interview preparation, and doing your homework is the best way to come out of a panel interview feeling like a rock star. Before you go to your interview, research the company and, if possible, different departments. Make sure you understand the job description and the direction the company is taking so you can address the company’s strategy, successes and challenges. And, ask the interview coordinator about its structure, who the interviewers are, and how many you’ll be meeting with at a time. This will give you an opportunity to learn about each individual’s department and think ahead about each department’s needs.

5. Pay attention to names and use them.
When you walk into a panel interview, you will be introduced to several people and will quickly be told what each individual’s role is. As hard as it is to pick up on names and other facts in a stressful situation, do your best to retain whatever personal information you can. When you meet and shake hands with each individual, repeat that person’s name, either out loud by saying, “nice to meet you, John,” or simply in your head. You will then be able to refer to each person by name, which will make a big impression on the group.

6. Relax and be confident.
While group interviews can be unnerving, your best bet is to take a deep breath, relax and have meaningful conversations. Try not to think about the fact that you are being judged by a panel. Look at each interviewer as an individual and speak to each interviewer as an individual. Confidence and ease are qualities that are exuded naturally. If you trust in your own abilities and enjoy learning more about the company, your talents will automatically show!

For information on what’s going on in San Antonio:
North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce
San Antonio Chamber of Commerce
San Antonio Business Journal
San Antonio Fiesta Organization
San Antonio Express News

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National Association of Personnel Services
Texas Association of Personnel Consultants
San Antonio Association of Personnel Consultants
North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce
National Business Aviation Association
San Antonio Area Business Aviation Alliance
San Antonio Human Resource Management Association
American Association of Medical Dosimetrists
American Association of Physics in Medicine
The Alamo Chapter of American Payroll Association
San Antonio Manufacturers Association