Tough Interview Questions #8: Why Have You Been Out of Work for So Long?

When the job market is terrible, the answer is pretty easy--I have interviewed at several places but, as you know, the market is extremely competitive and I have finished #2 on several searches.

When the job market is terrific and you represent yourself to having extremely marketable skills and, say, six months later, you're still looking for work, employers look at you differently. They start to ask, "What's wrong with this guy/person/woman that they are still looking for work?"

They really do start to think that there is something wrong, even if the question isn't asked of you.

As such, it is important to tell them at some point in the interview that since leaving your last job, :

1. You took time off for a long vacation you haven't had in eons

2. You traveled to visit family abroad that you haven't seen in years

3. You took time off to clear your mind after years of work to clear your mind

4. You've been taking formal courses in your discipline that you never had time to take before

and are now ready to return to work. You've been looking for only a few weeks now (not, say, the full six months you've been out of work).

Unless you say something about this, they will always wonder and when they wonder, they start to look at other alternatives.

And when that happens, they never return to you.

Jeff Altman 
The Big Game Hunter
www.TheBigGameHunter.us

JeffAltman@TheBigGameHunter.us

© 2007 all rights reserved.

Basic Interview Questions

These are basic questions the nswers to which may provide you a gateway through follow up questioning to learn about the job applicant.


Tell me about yourself.
Tell me about your experience.
What is your most important accomplishment to date?
How would you describe your ideal job?
Why did you choose this career?
When did you decide on this career?
What goals do you have in your career?
How do you plan to achieve these goals?
How do you personally define success?
Describe a situation in which you were successful.
What do you think it takes to be successful in this career?
What accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction in your life?
If you had to live your life over again, what one thing would you change?
Would you rather work with information or with people?
Are you a team player?
What motivates you?
Why should I hire you?
Are you a goal-oriented person?
Tell me about some of your recent goals and what you did to achieve them.
What are your short-term goals?
What is your long-range objective?
What do you see yourself doing five years from now?
Where do you want to become ten years from now?
Do you handle conflict well?
Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or professor? How did you resolve it?
What major problem have you had to deal with recently?
Do you handle pressure well?
What is your greatest strength?
What is your greatest weakness?
If I were to ask one of your professors (or a boss) to describe you, what would he or she say?Why did you choose to attend your college?
What changes would you make at your college?
How has your education prepared you for your career?
What were your favorite classes? Why?
Do you enjoy doing independent research?
Why is your GPA not higher?
Do you have any plans for further education?
How much training do you think you’ll need to become a productive \n employee?
What qualities do you feel a successful manager should have?
Why do you want to work in the _____ industry?
What do you know about our company?
Why are you interested in our company?
Do you have any location preferences?
How familiar are you with the community that we’re located in?
Are you willing to relocate? In the future?
Are you willing to travel? How much?
Is money important to you?
How much money do you need to make to be happy?
What kind of salary are you looking for?


Jeff Altman 
The Big Game Hunter
www.TheBigGameHunter.us

JeffAltman@TheBigGameHunter.us

© 2007 all rights reserved. 

Tough Interview Question #7: Where Do You See Yourself 5 Years from Now?

Asked of beginners, veterans and senior staff alike, "Where do you see yourself five years from now," is designed to accomplish several things.

An employer will get

1. A reality check about you
2. Find out if you are settling for a position
3. A sense of whether you are arrogant

You see for years, beginners were coached to say, "Five years from now, I want your job!" Pretty arrogant isn't it.

And frankly, most people aren't sure where they want to be five years from now because the tidal wave of change that has been occurring in the global economy can drown even the strongest swimmer.

Rather than be extremely specific and dotting every "i" and crossing every "t," I believe that you are better served by answering something like this:

" I want to make a long term commitment to my next company and position and, frankly, judging by what you've told me, I can see making a commitment here. Where do I see myself five years from now? I have the idea that I would like to be _____________ (give a solid description of the role you might like; just don't speak in a way that suggests that you are rigid; sound like you are thinking as you speak).

"I also know that if I work hard and deliver excellence to you, that opportunities will open up to me that I may find hard to imagine now because that's the way it has always been for me in my life and in my career (be prepared to offer an example). As a result, I've learned how important it is to be flexible in my thinking and in my planning.



Jeff Altman 
The Big Game Hunter
www.TheBigGameHunter.us

JeffAltman@TheBigGameHunter.us

© 2007 all rights reserved.

Tough Interview Question #6: Why Do You Want to Work Here?

Question. Why do you want to work here?

One of my clients uses this question all the time. In their case they are an internationally known publisher that has a great, well-known brand. Not every company is as well-known as they are

Do I have to remind you that before every interview take the time to do research about the firm you are meeting with.

What is going on at the firm from a business standpoint? What is your understanding about the job? Then, feed it back to them starting with this line:


Why would I want to work here? Who wouldn't want to work here? This is an opportunity to work for an __________ on such and such where I can help _________! Why wouldn't want someone want to do that!
By letting your enthusiasm out and feeding back what you understand the opportunity to be, you will let them know of your interest (something that employers always want to know) and confirm that you understand the job and the opportunity.


Jeff Altman 
The Big Game Hunter
www.TheBigGameHunter.us

JeffAltman@TheBigGameHunter.us

© 2007 all rights reserved.

Tough Interview Question #5: Why Should I Hire You?

This question is my favorite interview question!

It is one that offers you a chance to boast without actually boasting and to connect with the interviewer like few questions can.

And, it is a question that most people are unprepared for.

You see most people are prepared to speak about their experience but not their experience as it relates to the available position . . . and that is the key to answering this question and preparing for any interview because, ultimately, every interviewer is trying to determine how your experience meshes with their job and their corporate culture.

So when you answer this question, summarize your understanding of the position with a few points. For example:

"As I understand the role we're discussing you are looking for someone to supervise an office consisting of three secretaries, 2 clerks and a part timer. You want someone who has supervised a support function for a firm of a particular size and for a particular industry. You would like someone who can have a fresh outlook on the personal dynamics here and bring some inspiration to the staff to encourage to work beyond their self-imposed limits and truly bring out their best."

or

"As I understand it, you are looking for a software developer with at least 4 years of experience who has done development using J2EE and has done this for an investment firm, preferably in an equities group."

Go into as much detail as you like because you are showing an understanding of the situation you are walking into.

Now you can ask a question or ace the question. The question you can ask is, "Did I miss anything here?"

Then, show how your experience blends well with the job description.

"Let me go item by item."

And then do so. Walk them through your experience and how it fits the job requirement. Look them in the eye. Be determined. Lay it out for them so that if they were six years old, they would understand how you would fit the job and show them through your manner the personal qualities necessary to do so.

Please note: For many jobs, determination and drive are cultural values that employers look for. They are not the only ones. In the first job, the office manager's job, it addition to the objective skills required, their are soft skills like motivational qualities that are critical.

So remember, start off by summarizing what you understand they are looking for, then ask if you have missed any points, and finally, demonstrate the fit in the context of their job.


Jeff Altman 
The Big Game Hunter
www.TheBigGameHunter.us

JeffAltman@TheBigGameHunter.us

© 2007 all rights reserved.

Tough Interview Questions #4: Tell Me About a Mistake You Made

You know everyone makes mistakes. I make mistakes. You've made mistakes. Tell me about a (professional) mistake you've made and what you learned from it.

I put the word professional in parentheses because sometimes the question is asked without it and I want to make sure you know that whenever you are asked this question, they are asking you about a professional mistake in judgment.

Do not give them a story of something that happened recently. Recent mistakes can be used to reject your candidacy under the premise that you should have known better than to do what you did.

Instead, try to usea lesson from when you were a beginner . . .and don't sound too rehearsed.

"Hmm! That's a great question."

(Pause to think for a minute).

"I remember there was a time when I started out and was gung ho, I started to fall behind on project. Instead of letting my manager know that I was struggling, I put in even more effort thinking that through the force of my will, I could turn things around. But I stayed behind what was expected of me and eventually decided to tell my manager. He taught me a great lesson. Everything we do is interdependent. If I struggle, she needs to know because it affects others.

Even today, I encourage my people to tell me as soon as they can about problems because their work is connected with other people's work and impacts it."

See what that does? It takes an old story and brings it into the present in a very human way that everyone can understand.

Jeff Altman 
The Big Game Hunter
www.TheBigGameHunter.us

JeffAltman@TheBigGameHunter.us

© 2007 all rights reserved.

Tough Interview Questions #3: What are Your Weaknesses

And What are your Weaknesses??

This is the mirror question to the one asked in the previous column about your greatest strengths.

Whereas the answer to a question about your strengths can brand you as a blowhard, the answer to this one will be listened to carefully for what you perceive your deficiencies to be. 

The wrong answer is to answer directly, such as , “I don’t have much experience with _____________”. It is far better to disguise a strength as a weakness.

For example, when asked the question, pause, break eye contact with the interviewer, look as though you’re sincerely thinking about the question for a moment or two, as though it was the first time you ever heard this question.

Then answer, “Hmm. (pause) . . . I sometimes work too hard. When I receive an assignment, I think about the problem all the time. I tend to put in a lot of after hours time massaging the problem and working on the project. Sometimes, after a few months, I’ve noticed I can become a little worn and will make a mistake. What then happens, it is a signal that I need a brief break get back to work.”

Answering in this manner tells them that you work extremely hard.

Not a bad message to give an interviewer!

Jeff Altman 
The Big Game Hunter
www.TheBigGameHunter.us

JeffAltman@TheBigGameHunter.us

© 2007 all rights reserved.

Tough Interview Question #2: What Are Your Greatest Strengths?

Most people make the mistake of talking way too much or vomiting an answer upon the interviewer that is extrememly generic that has nothing to do with the position being interviewed for.

They speak about being hardworking. They speak about being a team player or a leader. Saying you are something is one thing. No one oever says, "I am a lazy maverick who would rather follow instructions and get out of doing work."

Telling a story where someone can develop a feeling about you is far better.

And it needs to be in the context of the job that you are interviewing for.

Now, describe a situation where your behavior stood out that would benefit the firm you are interviewing for.

For example, you are interviewing for a position as a Director of a function. The firm's profits require improvement (don't they all), you are asked to reduce costs (don't they all), fingers are being pointed every which way (don't they always) and people are trying to arrange the deck chairs on a sinking luxury liner.

You paint the picture for the interviewer and then say, "I'm not describing this to be critical. It's just the way it was. I met witha number of my colleagues and encouraged them to make serious plans that involved sacrifice for the benefit of the firm. I offered suggestions and was heard by them because I have the ability to foster trust in people because I've earned their trust and respect from my honest dealings with them in the past when a crisis didn't exist."

Or

"One of my colleagues was struggling with completing a project. I offered to spend time with them off hours to help them get through a difficult phase of it. I answered questions; I worked with them closely. I knew they cared about getting the project done and just found it difficult to ask for help."

Among the qualities to emphasize are:

Character
Personal leadership
The ability to lead others
Intelligence
Honesty
A positive attitude in the face of critical coleagues that can shift others' thinking
Great communications skills--the ability t cut through noise and be heard by others
The Willingness to Expend Effort
Dedication
Passion and Enthusiasm for Work
Infectious Self-Confidence

And these qualities have to be communicated in the context of the job you are interviewing for.



Jeff Altman 
The Big Game Hunter
www.TheBigGameHunter.us

JeffAltman@TheBigGameHunter.us

© 2007 all rights reserved.

Tough Interview Question #1: Tell me about yourself?

I have been in the search industry for more than 30 years. I think the second person I ever interviewed taught me how to mangle this question and almost drove me out of the field by speaking continuously for more than ten minutes.

To understand how to answer question on an interview, you need to remember that you are not meeting a friend for lunch but being evaluated and assessed for how you fit into an organization.

Therefore to answer this and any other question on an interview, you need to target your answer on what they care about. That assumes that you know what they are looking for in the way of skills in order to target your answer.

Keep your answer to 30-45 seconds unless you are a skillful and interesting speaker in which you can extend your answer to one minute, all targeted toward confirming the basic information that caused you to get the interview.

DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT SPEAK FOREVER BECAUSE THEY WILL STOP LISTENING AFTER A WHILE.

For example, for a company that might be trying to fill a hedge fund accounting position, your answer might be something like.

“I’ve been in the accounting field for five years with the last three years in hedge fund accounting with responsibility for calculating the NAV for 5 hedge funds and __________ .

Remember: Keep your answer to 30-45 seconds because, in that amount of time, you will confirm the basic information that caused you to get the interview, give them an outline for following up that will allow you to anticipate their follow up questions and prepared to answer them. Plus you will keep the interview interactive, interesting and flowing.

Jeff Altman 
The Big Game Hunter
www.TheBigGameHunter.us

JeffAltman@TheBigGameHunter.us

© 2007 all rights reserved.