Some Tips on How to answer Job Interview questions:

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