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Mark Roy 講師的專欄

Ace your job or university interview!! Part 6

2020年8月13日

Hi, over the next few weeks I will be publishing regular advice on how to ace your job / university / MBA, or PhD interview. If you would like to book a lesson with me, I will provide you with a 28 page document that I have written with some sample questions and advice on how to answer them. In these articles that I am publishing, you will find a group of questions and the appropriate advice on how to answer them, and in some cases you will even find some sample answers. During a lesson, I will go through the questions with you, let you answer as if you were in an interview environment and then I will check, and if necessary, correct the content of your answer. I hope you find the following information useful and I really look forward to seeing you online if you choose a class with me! I am also offering a 20% discount for any new students for ANY of my lessons. 

Lesson link:

https://cafetalk.com/lessons/detail/?id=11273&key=ec0e3f840eb8c5a75b04f6306f25dd66

 

·       Why have you been unemployed so long?

It is always better to answer this question with ‘I have just started looking’, but this is not always possible, particularly if your resume indicates you have been unemployed for the last six months.  If you cannot hide the fact that your job search has been taking a while, then state you are being selective about whom you will work for. Of course, stating this might prompt the interviewer to ask, ‘What offers have you turned down?’ which could land you in trouble if you have not actually received any job offers. (It isn't a good idea to lie in answering this latter question).

A bad economy and a crowded market are good reasons one might have trouble finding a job. However, be aware that many interviewers may hold this against you even if the job market was very bad and many people were having trouble finding employment.

·       What previously held job do you consider to be your favourite and why?

This is actually a trick question asked to determine if you enjoy the type of work the position you are applying for involves. Therefore, the answer to this question should be a job that requires the same or similar work that you will be required to perform in the new job. If you do not have a previous job wherein you performed similar tasks, then offer an answer that does not suggest you are ill-suited for the position.  For example, if you are applying for a high-stress, demanding job in a chaotic environment, do not tell the interviewer you loved your position with XXX company because of the mellow, low stress laid-back atmosphere.

·       Would your present employer be surprised to know you're job hunting?

Never answer this question in negative way such as "My current boss wouldn't be surprised in the least to hear I'm leaving since he's been trying to get rid of me for years!"  Always tell the interviewer that you are happy with your current employer and job, but are simply looking for other new opportunities and to take on a job with more challenges, and yes, more salary and opportunities for advancement. 

Job Interview Questions About You

·       What is your greatest weakness?

Don't answer by claiming that you have no weaknesses. Confess a real weakness that you have, but choose one that is not particularly relevant to the job you are seeking.  Do not answer with phony weaknesses such as "I'm a slave to my job" or "I'm a workaholic". Just state the weakness, tell the interview how it has harmed you in your work life, and what steps you have taken to improve it.  A good step one can take to improve a weakness is to read self-help books on the subject. You might offer the title of a book you have read that helped you improve your weakness.

·       What is your greatest strength?

State one or two strengths that are work-related and tell the interviewer the story about when that strength helped you accomplish a task at work (or school). For example: "I have the ability to train and motivate people. At XXX Co., employee turnover was very high, so I  . . . " (give details of what you did to decrease turnover, ie: trained and motivated employees, etc).

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