Aug 16, 2012
11:37H (Thursday)
Some Tips on How to answer job interview questions:
1. Introduction
a. Introduction
of yourself or most commonly known as Tell me something
about yourself , describe yourself… as most of the interviewer used
to ask during the initial interview to their interviewees for the position they’d
like to get.
Really, there are different kind
of interviewers and interviewees in an interpersonal or intrapersonal communications.
But for the interviewees, you
have to impress your interviewers, how?
Well, answering the question Tell me something about yourself is one the tricky and confusing question.
Tricky because, you know the fact that answering the question is much easier to
think because you have the answer already in your mind. Most of your answer goes like this:
Hi my name is…..
Im am …years old…
I live in….
My hobbies are… (watching TV, texting, surfing, etc)
EPIC Fail… Right? That’s an
autofail! Remember, AUTOFAIL!
Confusing. You already knew that
the question is quite all about yourself. Yes, it’s true; it’s all about you, really.
But try to ask your self! It is good enough to answer the interviewer
everything about yourself that is already written on your resume? Think twice!
Your interviewers were actually not idiot. They can read your resume, Rather you don’t need to
spell it all over again not unless you were ask to tell something about that
e.g your previous work like tell me something about you previous work.
AUTOFAIL! Again.
Remember: Explode in the
initial interview! Impress your interviewer!
EH PANU BA?
A Very good question that
deserves very nice answers!
Tell
me something about yourself
You are ask to answer about
your…
ü Pertinent skills related to the company. (e.g multitasking skills, computer skills for
as long as your skill is related to the company because if it’s not, they don’t even
care)
ü Characters
ü Hobbies
(not watching TV, texting, surfing the internet, FB… make sure that your
hobbies were something beneficial to you or to others)
ü Interests (
Is that you are strongly dedicated to know and learn a thing that is outside
your scope and you want to get it right away, you are very willing to get the training and
be adept into this barely thing, that you could offer your maximum time for this, and your
eagerness to have it in earlier time).
ü Why do you want to
be…. (the position you’d like to get in and in the company, that’s why
it is important to search for the companies important information related to
your application and qualification.)
ü Previous work.
(tell something about your previous work regarding to your skills, characters
and other achievements or task in your previous work that caused you to grow and
your attitude to contribute to the success of the company) Remember: It isn't
important to mention your previous employer name, unless you are asked by the
interviewer :D
ü Your qualifications.
(your degree, graduate or undergraduate, apply your attitude, characters,
skills in this conversation to impress the interviewer)
Oops! Don’t just say you’re
patient, you’re hardworking, teamplayer.. etc sawang sawa na sila sa ganyan! Panohon pa
ni kopong kopong yan! Iba na ngaun, like technologies, interviews were evolving
and innovative in our time.
Say it with full confidence…
like e.g (I am an outgoing person. Yes! you are an outgoing person but how you
become an outgoing person? Don’t let your interviewers ask you a follow up
question like that, Impress the interviewer immediately. Say it before he asks.
Remember, the flow of the interview session is like 10% of the conversation
goes to your interviewer; your 90% is awarded to you. Only to you! Just Don’t forget: the 3 seconds rule! After the
question, you’ll be given seconds to start your answer.
Question: Tell me something about yourself
Answer: I am… (sagot agad to break the 3 seconds rule)
Question: what is your favorite sport?
Answer:
My favorite sport is…. this way nabreak mo na ang 3 seconds rule, nakapag isip
ka pa! Don’t waste your time!)
KAYA PABIBO KA, PAEPAL KA! Wag lang sobra…
Just enough to impress your interviewer! Wag
magpahalatang kabado! Be confident!
KABADO ka kapag!
§ Iniikot – ikot mo ung ballpen habang sumasagot para di
mahalatang nangingig ang mga kamay mo! Relax, you can use body gestures
to emphasize you points in the interview, you can wave your hands, move your
head or body but not too much (interviewers were keen observers)
§ Ikot ng ikot ang pwet mo. (Relax, you're making too much body
gestures!)
§ Tingin ka ng tingin kung san-san dahil alam mung ung
interviewer ay busy sa pagbabuy ng resume mong pnprint mo pa ng mahal sa
computer shop. (have an eye to the interviewer in one or two directions
alternately to make feel of the interviewer that you are really interested to
get the job.)
§ Dami mong fillers (am… amm… ammm… humming diba? Anu choral
member ka? O baka gusto mo lang ng AHM galling sa sinaing mu? Oh eto pa
basically, usually, etc) (wui! Avoid lots of these and Don’t talk fast
to help you think of the next and appropriate words for your next sentence. Relax,
imagine that It is mother – daughter conversation that you are confident to
speak the language. Also, these fillers and dead air are the critical factors
in conversation. You can use Ah, ahm twice but not too much for at some
point it is used as cohesive devices.)
§ Ang hina ng boses mo, hindi ka maintindihan, nagtatakip
ka pa ng panyo sa bibig! ( Tip: magtoothbrush or magfresh candy prior to
interview) I understand that your were suffering from jaw stiffening. Hina ng boses mo sa interview room pero paglabas ang lakas ng boses mo
magbigay ng tips sa mga nasa labas na kinkabahan sa turn nila.) (Prepare
at home, you answer common questions in an interview then practice your answer
in the mirror, record your voice, or talk to your siblings all the time. It works,
promise! It can build confidence! Pronounce the words clearly and enunciate important
points. Have with you a powerful voice, neutral accent, appropriate words to
say, energy and confidence! You can do it!)
§ After mu sumagot, may bugtong hininga ka pang abot
hanggang labas! (Smile after the end-word in the conversation)
§ Nakangiwi ka pa imbes na magsmile ka! Dapat confident
kahit wrong grammar! (look in the eye, smile as if you are extremely confident
to answer the hard questions….)
§ Kuba pa ung posture mo! Be proud, sit up straight! Sayang
naman ung oras mo sa pagpili ng susuotin mo para sa interview kung lulukutin mo
lang. Effort mo diba? (Confidence would have seen in your posture… proper posturing is a Way
of showing respect to the person in front of you excluding those who have the
structural deformity, that is totally understood)
§ Sabi ka ng sabi sa katabi mo sa waiting area na
kinakabahan ka imbes na immotivate mo ung sarili sa mga posibleng tanung, kaya
namn pagpasok mo sa room, sobra kang kinabahan dahil minotivate mo ang sarili
sa KABA! (di makatulog sa gabi sa kaiisip, sa diwa mo interview ang nasa
panaginip, anong hiwaga ang nadarama, anong KABA?) (Encourage yourself
that you can rock the interview room instead. Practice your answers to the possible questions you made at home and relax)
§ Unorganized sentence construction… paulit ulit ang
sinsabi mo, walang direction. (Wui, Relax lang, don’t talk fast ,
Interviewer would have know if you would like to finish the interview ahead of
time).
§ AUTOFAIL!
NO TO SPOON FEED, Just to give you some ideas on how to work with your interviews and win
the JO afterwards. :D
2. Q’s (Questions in line with the
introductions)
a. A
direct question (what is your favorite sport? My favorite sport is….. Wow you’re
great because you have broken the 3 seconds rule by saying “My favorite sport
is…!
E.g my favorite sport is mountaineering. I appreciate seeing creations,
natures and breathtaking views along the trail and over the summit. I climb for
victory, happiness, achievement and even when I am stress. It’s a great avenue
of releasing my feelings.
Speaking of the feeling, when you are climbing, your only baggage is
your soul and when the feeling is light, the feeling is one of liberation. Also
mountaineering helps me to have an active lifestyle. It can really make me feel
healthy. That’s why I used to become a mountaineer. :D
b.
Be careful with your answers! Make sure that
you can defend it because interviewers are the lucky interviewers who've always
wanted you to speak things outside your capacity; they are waiting for any
errors you could make in the midst conversation. Remember, Don’t say lots of thing
against you to be marked FAILED. An AUTOFAIL again. Of course you can say such
negative but just few or one and make sure that you can make it positive along with
your explanation till the end of the conversation. SMILE. Always make the bad
situation as good as you can because you are selling yourself. You have to be
creative in advertising yourself. Good Luck and God Bless.
c.
Complete your sentence and create a
fantastic sentence structure.
3. Theoretical Questions
a.
Interviewers are looking into your grammar,
communication skill, and sentence construction.
b.
You are given certain topics but you are not
ALLOWED to answer by yes or no or one sentence only. AUTOFAIL.
c.
If you answer yes or no, make sure there are
following sentences like 2 – 3 sentences were enough to catch your interviewer
great impression.
d.
Your answer must be related to the topic.
e.
Remember the 3 seconds rule to break.
4. Situational
a.
Formula of 5 sets x 3 -4 minutes of talking.
b.
STARL
i.
SITUATION (2 -3 sentences)
ii.
TASK and ACTION (3
-5 sentences)
iii.
RESULT (2 -3 sentences)
iv.
LEARNING (1 – 2 sentences)
c.
The interviewer is checking for your behavior!
d.
Remember to use the pattern STARL; the 3
seconds rule. :D
e.
Sample situational questions you can
practice at home.
1. What
is the most stressful moment of your life?
2. What
is the happiest moment of your life?
3. Embarrassing
moment.
4. Difficult
decision you made ever in your life.
GOOD LUCK AND GOD
BLESS YOU IN YOUR INTERVIEW
Think, Analyze and Realize.
Interviewers are checking the ff when you are answering
their questions. Kaya makikita mo silang nagsusulat sa resume mo na feeling mo
binababuy lang! No! they were checking for your room of improvements.
1.
Motivation (
to be part of the company, to get the position, no FF – see topic about FF,
focus on career buliding)
2.
Commitment (short
and long term goals, your plans in the short span of time and in the future,
how do you see your self 5 years ago?)
3.
Behavior (the
STARL: Tip: focus on your experience with your friends! Kahit mababaw na
experience OK lang, kasi tinitignan nila ung ability, emotions and behavior
toward handling the situation)
4.
Customer Service knowledge (use client instead
of Customer; Business instead of Service in your explanation)
5.
Communication: THE GMRC!
a. Grammar
b. Modulated
voice
c. Right
choice of words
d. Confidence
Also, remember that interviewers are very keen into your
answers. They are pushing you to make mistakes. But because you are great and
you know these tips, you can get your precious J.O (Job Offer0
OOoops…. I am High Risk to fail the interview because of
FF tag in my resume.
FF? what is that?
F – FAMILY
Most of the job seeker always mentions
their family in the interview as it is the biggest point of their
responsibilities. Enough, interviewers were looking for the committed person
who are ready to take responsibilities for themselves, who are building career
for themselves. Those who have motivation to get the job assertively. Committed
to the company! Open to any changes, legally bonded to the rules, policy and
regulations of the company, Responsible and agile to work that family won’t be
the factor to be the cause of your absence and laziness in work.
Be natural, your employer will
give you considerations regarding your family in any situations you are
encountering with your family in the near future. Thinking that you are not
getting younger, you have to build your own career to secure your future. So it’s
always that you are the focus of this matter why you needed to get the Job. It
is always YOU! CAREER <-->
SELF! Be Consistent! Remember this!
F – FINANCIAL
“I’ve heard that this company is giving high compensation wage and
benefits that’s why I want to get this job”. “I’m applying for the post because
I need to earn money for myself. Thus, Providing the needs of my family
financially.” AUTOFAIL. Marked FF in the RESUME. But of course, they won't tell that FF is the problem why you failed. They would have say: Thank you for your interest in our company but you need to work more with you confidence and grammar, you SVA and pronunciation. Now, you know it already, Use this as your guide. :)
Yeah. We are all looking for job
because we wanted to earn money for ourselves and for the necessities of our
family. That’s absolutely TRUE! Pero Wag
naman ng ipagdukdukan pa sa interviewer! Alam nila yun, kaya ka nga nagaapply. They
were looking into you focusing only to yourself, your motivations! Remember, you are
selling yourself! You are here to convince them and give them WOW.
It is always YOU! CAREER <--> SELF! Be
Consistent! Remember this!
You are High Risk because of?
You have to be consistent in?
Now that you are ready to attend your interview and you have built your confidence, just a
gentle and friendly reminders to take a look at this before you proceed to your interview and know this by heart. At
pagdating mo sa interview mo, tatawanan mo nlng, dahil naipasa mo ang
interview! You are amazing right? Prove them that you are fantastic!
Practice.
Record.
Practice.
Communicate.
Practice.
Not over rehearsed because at some points you are not
welcome with any other questions. You are only revolving yourself with your practiced
sample interview questions – answers. That’s why dead air comes in the
conversation because you failed to hear the question you practiced. Remember
the pattern of STARL, GMRC, your motivation, your commitment, Openness, Broadminded,
energetic, no to one word or one sentence but atleast 2 -3 sentence for the
direct questions and lastly, STARL for the behavioral and situational
questions. ~,^)
More importantly, PRAY :)
Have FAITH. Don’t be depressed if you fail once or more
or if the opportunity is limited for you because the competition is higher and
there’s no room to put yourself down in the competition.
I know you could put yourself on the top of competition
for you are a FANTASTIC and EXCELLENT :D
Always look up for the brighter tomorrow.
Don’t just Aim High, Aim higher.
I hope you guys learn from this: P
I hope these tips will help you win the job interview.
Thanks for stopping by.
Have a Great Day: D
Aug2012 l cpc
