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Job Interview Questions for a Tyre Fitter

Tyre Fitter Job Interview

In a tyre fitter job interview, employers will ask questions based on the tyre fitter job duties, which, in the main, is the repair, maintenance and replacement of tyres on a range of vehicles.

Some tyre fitting companies specialise in HGV, coach or specialist vehicle tyre-fitting, but in the main, most tyre fitters work on cars and small vans.

Whereas garages will often recruit mechanics that are also responsible for tyre repair and replacement, employers running a tyre fitting centre require skilled tyre fitters.

Depending on the job position, some employers will recruit an apprentice – someone with the perceived work ethic and skills for the role, whereas others need an experienced tyre fitter.

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Job Interview Questions for a Tyre Fitter

Below you will find 12 job interveiw questions that are commonly asked during a tyre fitting job interview, with an explanation of how to answer each of the questions.

Job Interview Question 1: What is your tyre-fitting or garage experience?

If an applicant has any previous tyre-fitting experience it is good to state this at the job interview start, linking the duration in the job role to the applicant’s knowledge base:

‘I have been working as a tyre fitter for X number of years. In my current role, I am responsible for welcoming customers to the centre, diagnosing the tyre issue – if the tyre needs replacing or repairing. I am experienced in wheel-balancing, removing nails from tyres and selling new tyres to customers.

For a new entry to the tyre-fitting career, the applicant needs to promote their skill set and worth ethic. This is a common approach for a school leaver or someone making a career change:

‘I recently left college where I gained a Level 2 diploma in vehicle fitting. During the course, I learnt how to check and replace tyres, tyre maintenance and basic automotive tasks; carrying out MOTs for example. During the course, I undertook a 2-week tyre-fitting work placement and was highly praised by my manager.’

Job Interview Question 2: How do you welcome a new customer?

The customer ‘welcome’ is an important part of the business.

The ‘welcome’ helps to set the standard of customer service but also helps to create a quick turnaround which increase profit.

This interveiw question can be answered by explaining the process in several ‘steps’

‘Welcoming a new customer is important as , when it is done properly, it shows the professionalisum of the business creating a good first impression. When I welcome a customer I follow these 3 steps:

Step 1 – I check if they have been booked in for a wheel  change or if they have just turned up. In busy periods pre-booked customers take priority. For ‘just turned up customers’ I would explain the potential wait time.

Step 2 – Next I explain the process; how I will check the tyres for damage and wear, and how I will give advice on the tyre replacement, explaining how long this process will take.

Step 3- Finally,  I show them where they can wait and offer to get them a hot drink to help them feel comfortable.

Job Interview Question 3: Explain how you check a vehicle’s balancing?

When answering technical problems, it is best practice to start by explaining the reason behind a task, before giving an answer as this who the applicant’s level of job confidence and competencies. 

‘Wheel alignment and balancing important in terms of driver safety. Unbalanced wheels cause vibrations and can be dangerous when driving, especially in icy conditions. When checking wheel alignment I look at the angles of the wheels, check the balance before making any adjustments. I also explain the importance of regular checks to customers, telling them how accurate wheel alignment ensure that the vehicle runs staright.’

Job Interview Question 4: What was the quality of standard of work/customer service in previous positions?

In the automotive trade employers need employees with a strong work ethic.

This question is trying gage each applicants qualities. This is deemed to be important because manual work requires mental strength. Working in a tyre-fitting company means that employees will work weekends as part of buisness-as-usual.

‘My work ethic is very strong. With every task I undertake from fitting tyres to wlecoming customers I approach with professionalism and enthusiasm.’

In addition to the above example opening answer, interveiwees need to provide a reallife example of strong work ethic.

Set the scene – start by explaining the situation, as an example, an increase in workload on a partcialur busy day.

Action – discuss what actions you took, highlighting your work ethic.

Success – end the interveiw answer by stating the positive ouctome; this could be feedback from the manager.

Job Interview Question 5: What does balancing and re-aligning wheel mean?

As a technical question, this interveiw question can be answered with a detailed explanation of the reason behind the requirement for wheel realignment.

‘Wheel alignment is important for safe driving as it improves the vehicle handling and reduces stress on the vehicle suspension. Signs of poor balancing include the car pulling to the side, vibrating steering wheel and uneven tyre wear.’

If you have an out-of-balance condition on the steering, have all four wheels balanced, front and back. Unbalanced wheels on the rear can often be felt through the steering.

Job Interview Question 6: Give an example of going above and beyond on behalf of a customer

Customer service is important in the automotive industry as a happy customer will return for repeat business.

When answering this question, first explain your understanding of customer service before giving an example of providing excellent customer service.

‘I believe customer satisfaction is very important in this industry. A negative review on Google can reduce the number of customers choosing our garage for their tyres.  With that in mind, I always focus on customer satisfaction. An example of this is when a new customer arrived before the centre was officially open. The customer needed a quick tyre change as they were late for an important meeting. I could see the customer was distressed, and even though we didn’t officially start my shift for another 20minutes I decide to start work early and help the customer out. Two weeks later the customer returned to thank me for my support, explaining that they manage a fleet of cars and would use this garage for the annual replacement of tyres.’

Job Interview Question 7: Name 3 different types of tyres and their pro’s and con’s?

Another technical interview question.

Depending on an applicants knowledge level depends on how they answer this interview question. One example would be talking about tyre tread.

It doesn’t matter what the interviewee discusses as long as they highlight their level of industry knowledge.

‘When I discuss the pro’s and con’s of tyres to customers, I often explain the various treads.: symmetrical tread is the cheaper option but doesn’t perform well it wet conditions. A second option is directional tread – great for wet roads but due to their soft rubber can become warn quicker. The final option I discuss is asymmetrical tyres; these tyers have excellent handling but need fitting in a certain way.’

Job Interview Question 8: Describe the process for repairing a puncture?

As one of the key task for a tyre fitter, this is going to be a common interview question.

When answering the technical question explain it in steps. New to the trade interveiwees can explain what they believe the process is using the below as a guide. Experience tyre fitters can add their own experiences to the answer, adding additional technical information.

‘To repair a tyre I would first search for the puncture or damage, also checking for potential second punctures. Once I have located the puncture I would remove the embedded object causing the damage. Next I would fill the hole before replacing the tyre.’

Job Interview Question 9: What do you need to look for when checking for signs of damage and wear?

Checking for damage and wear is a buisnes-as-usual task. Employees when conducting any repair on a tyre would also check the remaining tyres for wear. Therfore it is important to understand the different types of tyre damage.

Understanding the various damage types is what the employer is checking with this job interview question.

‘There are several types of tyre damage I check include; tread depth – checking that each tyre meets the legal requirement. Exposed cords, faults from previous repairs and foreign objects which could cause secondary damage. and Finally tyre deterioration.’

Job Interview Question 10: What does health and safety mean to you?

The tyre fitting shop is filled with machinery and moving vechiles.

Therfore, following health and safety is deemed as high importance. Employers expect all employees to follow the health and safety act. The employer asking the H&S interview question is wanting to check an employees current knowledge and understanding.

‘For me, health and safety is virtual for me and my colleagues. If you don’t follow the H&S rules it may result in injuries that take staff members out of work for long period of times. Due to this I always follow all H&S rules including keeping the garage free from obstruction, returning tools and equipment to their designated place and checking for danger before starting a task.’

Job Interview Question 11: How do you manage your day to day duties?

Working in a tyre fitting garage is a busy workplace with a mixture of pre-booked appointments and walk-in tasks.

Employers are ideally looking for a tyre fitter who can time manage their workload to ensure any additional work, gain on the day, can be dealt with.

‘I am a good with time management. At the end of each day I look at the pre-booked appointments for the following day and check what equipment and resources I require. I can then collect these saving time. I also have a good idea how long each duty takes and I can work out how mush ‘free’ time I have for any drop-in tasks.’

Job Interview Question 12: Do you have any questions to ask?

  • Are you looking to expand the business?
  • What other mechanical jobs do you carry out?
  • Do you offer any training or qualifications relating to tyre fitting?
  • How many people work with the tyre-fitting centre?
  • What is the average number of customers per day?
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Job Interview Questions for a Hospitality Receptionist

Hospitality Receptionist Job Interview

Hospitality jobs are on the increase and front of house hotel and receptionist positions are still on the rise even with an increase in online bookings.

For many hotel chains having a hotel receptionist skilled in customer service is key to customer retention.  Employers, therefore, during the job interview will ask questions designed to understand if each applicant possesses interpersonal skills, organisational skills and experience of problem-solving. 

This article will help you pass your next job interview by providing you with a list of commonly asked hotel reception job interveiw questions and an explanation of how to answer each interview question. 

Job Interview Questions and Answers for a Hospitality Receptionist

Job Interview Question 1: What is your customer service experience?

The initial open question is designed to get an overview of the applicant’s relevant experience in reference to the criteria of the advertised position. 

When answering the ‘experience’ question, start generally before giving specific details;

‘I have X years of experience working X customer service roles..’

Next add in any relevant, hotel-related, qualifications;

‘…I possess a national diploma in customer service and an NVQ in computer studies…’

The answer should end with a list of specific skills and/or experiences relating to working with the hotel trade or customer service roles;

‘…For the last 5 years, I have worked at X where I was  responsible for taking bookings and cancellations, recording customer data on the computer, checking in guests, allocating rooms and answering questions about hotel facilities, local transport, places of interest and entertainment.’ 

Job Interview Question 2: How do you assess the success of a hotel front of house department?

What this question is really asking is if you understand what is required to make a successful front of house team. 

As customer service is key to the success of a hotel, you can link this essential element to the interview answer. Next, list some of the key job duties, that if completed properly, will result in a successful department.

‘Customer feedback provides the overall success rate of a hotel reception. If the feedback has common areas of development then this is an area that needs improving.  If the feedback is positive, then it is deemed that the front of house team is being successful. Behind the scenes, though, the front of house team have a number of key targets they have to meet. It is the meeting of these targets and the completion of business-as-usual duties that are key indicators of success.’ 

Job Interview Question 3: How does the hotel reception contribute to the strategies and goals of the hotel?

Hotel managers, when recruiting, require a team that all work together to achieve the objectives of the hotel. In the main, the goal of any hotel is to provide an excellent service to paying customers, as this increases repeat business and of course profits. 

When answering interveiw questions about the wider team and the overarching strategic objectives, you need to highlight how you understand that it is a team approach that is needed to be successful, from the cleaning team to the hotel manager, from the kitchen team to the front of house department. 

Job Interview Question 4: What was quality of standard of work/customer service in previous positions?

Employers ask questions about previous positions as new employees can bring over good practice or bad habits. Often if the standards were poor in a previous job role, it can be assumed that the employee will expect the same level of standards in the new role. 

It is important, then, to make it clear that either the standard of work was high in a previous role – and that you enjoyed working to this level of professionalism, or that it was the low standards that made you want to apply for a position with a more professional hotel. 

Job Interview Question 5:  Give an example of welcoming a customer to the hotel.

Example questions can be answered by stating the process you follow, in this instance, to welcome a hotel guest. 

  • Give a friendly welcome
  • Check booking details 
  • Give an overview of the room and the facilities 
  • Ask if they require anything to if they would like an upgrade
  • So the guest to their rooms 

Job Interview Question 6: Give an example of going above and beyond on behalf of a customer?

Customer service is gold in the hotel sector, with that old saying ‘the customer is always right’. 

Employers expect the front of house team to offer exceptional customer service. Don’t fall into the trap of answering this interveiw question with business-as-usual customer service (even though this level of customer service may be above and beyond in a different industry). 

A real-life example is required here. Previous, successful, examples have included:

  • Helping a guest gain a room when the hotel was full and the customer’s booking had been lost.
  • Taking extra time during a wedding to help the happy couple to have a lovely day by event managing the event that was starting to go badly.
  • Being an interpreter, once your shift had ended, for a group of non-English speaking customers on a trip from abroad. 

 

interview prediction grid

Job Interview Question 7: How do you recall large amounts of information?

As a front of house staff member, the guest expects the receptionist to know all the local facilities. 

Here, the interviewee, needs to explain their process for remembering all the required information needed for a potential guest. 

‘When starting work in a new city I first check for the key venue, activities and facilities that a guest may require; theatres, bars, museums. I also use the internet to find the random request that may be asked for, this way I always have an answer for a guest.’ 

Job Interview Question 8: What is key when answering a call from a customer or business associate?

Taking calls from guests is a daily occurrence. Employers are looking for a polite, professional and friendly receptionist to help key the brand’s positive image. 

As a technical interveiw question, the best way to answer it is to breakdown the steps embedded in the process for each duty. 

  • Answer with a good morning/good afternoon and name the hotel 
  • Ask how you can help 
  • Listen to the query and check any details 
  • Give advice, information or answer the question
  • Ask if there is anything extra you can help with
  • Wish them a good day 

Job Interview Question 9: What does customer service mean to you?

Customer service is about going above and beyond the call of duty to keep the customer happy. 

When answering the ‘customer service explanation’ question give a description, similar to the above statement, before giving an example of you using customer service in a previous role. 

Job Interview Question 10: Do you have any questions to ask?

  • How many hotels are in the chain? 
  • Can employees work across hotels?
  • What training is in place for employees?
  • What percentage of guests are repeat customers? 
  • Does the hotel have an internal promotion programme? 

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Robots Recruited for Low Skilled Jobs

Robots Recruited for Low Skilled Jobs

Imagine a future where technology is so advanced that robotics has taken over low skilled jobs

Imagine a future where we no longer have a delivery postal person mailing letters through our doors, instead, drones will fly from the warehouse, warehouses, where robotic warehouse staff  unload vans, pick and pack goods, before loading drones that will fly to our houses dropping parcels into our hands

Imagine a future where robots stack shelves in supermarkets, where robots clean hospital wards and where robots engineer driverless cars, space stations and computer programmed glasses

Imagine a future where we work in space, exploring new planets, mining minerals from asteroids that are shooting across the galaxy, a future where we even holiday next to the stars

Future Careers and Robotics 

Imagine a future where science is so advanced that we can use the natural energy from the sun to power our computers, kitchen appliances and machines. A future where we collect free electricity from the power of waves and a future where cars run off natural gases

Imagine a future where we live to an average age of 110, a future where medical science has cured diabetes, cancer and even the common cold. A future where organs for transplants are grown in labs, where parents can choose the eye colour and skin tone of their unborn baby, a future where scientist grow strawberries in labs to the size my head, steaks as big as cars and carrots as long as my arm

Imagine this, no more starvation, a real reduction in illness, robots and robotics working in every industry, in every town and even in every home.

 

   

Robots in Jobs Now 

To some, this sounds like something from a weird science fiction film but in actual fact, most of what I have quoted is happening right now.

Amazon has just been given permission by the UK government to test delivery drones, a hospital in Scotland employs robotic cleaners, the care industry is predicting a 10% rise in jobs due to the aging population and the UK government has predicted 100,000 space jobs over the next 10 years.

Virgin galactic is a plane that fly’s people into outer space, there are plans to put a human settlement on Mars, a bus in London is powered by human excrement and the oldest women who die a couple of months ago lived to the age of 116

With technology changing rapidly, we don’t know exactly what will happen in terms of the labour market but one thing is clear low skilled jobs are on the decrease and high-skilled jobs – science, technology, engineering and maths are set to rise.

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How Part-Time MBA Program Can Increase Your Career Prospects?

Management education is now becoming widely popular in the growth of career prospects. MBA degree along with any qualification increases your job opportunities to a great extent.

In fact, having an MBA degree from a reputable institute will leave you in an advantageous position.

Young professionals mostly, therefore, opt for the degree to seek better job opportunities.

In the race, even mid-career professionals are seen to choose MBA degree to boost their career but not keeping their job at stake.

You can check on the MET’s guide on PGDM to gain more information about the part-time courses.

Career Opportunities after Doing Part-Time MBA

Boost to Existing Career

Yes, you are already designated on a very good post in a reputed company. However, you definitely would desire to see yourself in a higher-level 5 years down the line, isn’t it? For this reason mainly, many executives, managers and even other professionals in the industry enroll themselves into the course to improve their current skills and look forward to be promoted in higher designation. It further opens up the path for new job offers from different well-known companies.

Core Areas in a Part-Time MBA Program

Similar to full-time MBA program, part-time course gives you opportunity to pick up your area of interest in the field. The areas in which you can build up your career after completion of part-time course are stated below:

   

Operations

Being selected as operations manager, you will be handling every activity i.e. needed to create as well as deliver a service or product. From the selection of suppliers to management & distribution of supply chain, everything you will have to take care of.

Sales & Marketing

The job responsibilities that you will be in charge of as a sales and marketing manager are research and develop marketing plans as well as opportunities, executing sales plans and managing staff as well.

Finance

Have to manage the funds in a way that it maximizes ROI thereby reducing the risk factor and guaranteeing adequate control over the fund investment and transfer. You will also be focusing on key areas such as predicting, budgeting, analyzing on cost reduction and also assessing operational performance.

Human Resources

Human Resources (HR) has the primary function to be carried out in an organization. Right from conducting interviews of candidates to placing them in the right position and even deciding on their pay scale is what you ought to do as a HR manager.

Retail

As a retail manager, you will be looking into daily affairs of the departments or stores. Your aim would be to maximize profits thereby reducing costs.

Accounting

Here your primary task would be to prepare as well as examine the financial records accurately. Even you will have to be sure that taxes are being paid on time. Other services will be like auditing, improving profits and revenues, improving business efficiency and inspect on the accounting systems and books as well.

So, you see there are a number of career opportunities awaiting your path even if you consider doing part-time MBA course.

Career Prospects

Even seeking a part-time MBA degree will give your CV an added weightage. You not only will be eligible for promotions in your current company but also can register with the employment consultancies to get calls on promising and attractive job opportunities.

Author Bio

Jenny Richards is a regular blogger and also a career consultant. She wrote the latest blog on career prospects you can have enrolled into a part-time MBA course from a recognized institute.

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Job Interview Diction

With a job interview due in a couple of weeks, you have spent your time preparing and writing your well researched interview answers.

After answering each interview question, using prepared and well researched answers, you are surprised that you rarely revive job offers, why is this?

It doesn’t matter how much effort you put into your interview preparation, if the interviewer cant understand your point, communication or perspective, you will fail to win over any employer.

Professional interviewees practice their diction, tonality and the delivery power of their voice. This creates an a confident, persuasive and charming interview.

Job Interview Diction

With a well prepared interview, you may believe that your answers will go down well. But, unless the interviewer can clearly hear each word, your well prepared answers wont hit the mark.

These are 3 key reasons why audiences turn off when listening to a poorly delivered interview answer

  • Nervousness speaker, lacking in confidence – people mumble during the interview when feel emotionally stressed 
  • Talking to fast – with a lot top say in such a short period of time, the interviewee may rush to get the words out 
  • Poor diction – rushing words or not pronouncing words clearly can leave the interviewer thinking “What did they say?”  

   

How to Improve Diction Before a Job Interview

A great technique for improving your diction, to practice talking slower and to boost your confidence is to use Tongue Twisters.

Here is a famous example to use as a practice tool “I am the very pattern of a modern Major-General; I’ve information vegetable, animal, and mineral; I know the Kings of England, and I quote the fights historical, From Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical; I’m very well acquainted too with matters mathematical, I understand equations, both simple and quadratical, About binomial theorem I’m teeming with a lot o’ news, With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse. I’m very good at integral and differential calculus, I know the scientific names of beings animalculous, In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral, I am the very model of a modern Major-General.”    

3 Steps to Improve Diction Prior to your Job Interview

Step 1 – Start by practicing your diction using tongue twisters before practicing the diction of your forthcoming job interview

Step 2 – Start by saying the tongue twister out loud slowly, ensure each word is said clearly and that each word is crisp at the word start and end.

Step 3 – Once the statement is communicated clearly, repeat the tongue twister faster and faster, repeating the paragraph if a word is not said cleanly.

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Your Values and Their Impact on the Job Outcome

Values shape the person you are. Your values affect your work ethic, personality, beliefs and what you deem to be important.

Often people with similar values create strong rapport and build strong friendships.

In the job interview, you can use values to create likability with the interviewer increasing your chances of a job offer. The employer will value certain aspects of the job more than others, they deem certain company policies and procedures over others and they will reference ways of working. 

If your values match the interviewer’s values you will increase interview rapport.

Understanding Your Values

What is important to you in your career? To understand what you value in  a career I would first ask you to write down your values on a piece of paper. 

Example Values

Your Values

Money

Career progression

Working with others

Seeing the end result to my work

Working close to home

Having targets

Feedback

Personal development

Flexibility

Reliability

Ongoing support

Variation

Now you have a list of your career values; you need to reorder them according to importance, which of your values is more important to you? If you had a choice would you take a job that had value A or value B?

Your Values in Order of Importance

 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Once you know your career values and the values you most require, ask your self “could I have a job that didn’t have Value X?” – Pose this question for all the values on your list.

People who accept a job offer with a company who doesn’t have the same values will soon become bored, agitated or stressed, which will lead to them quitting their job or becoming depressed and falling ill. If you have not reflected on and identified your values then you may fall into the trap of applying for similar unsuitable roles in which you quickly become bored, creating a cycle of negative career choices.

Once you know what you truly value in a career, you can match your values to that of the position you are applying for and I would add, once you find your values in the position you are applying for you will quickly become more excited about the position and this excitement will shine through during the interview which will lead to leaving a lasting positive impression.

Often enthusiastic, passionate and motivated interviewees gain job offers over experienced but boring interviewees – candidates might give the same answers but they are not always heard the same by the bored interviewer.

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Job Interview Questions and Answers for Boots

Often out of 300 applicants only 6 candidates will be interviewed. In most interviews, but this varies depending on the job sector and employer, you will be asked around 10 questions during a 45-minute interview.

Job Interview Questions and Answers for Boots

          • Job Interview Question 1: What is your experience in retail or customer service?

Give an overview of your retail and experience and highlight 3 key career achievements related to retail. Retail employers would like to hear about teamwork, customer service skills and attitude to work

        • Job Interview Question 2: What would you do to improve customer service in a Boots store?

Answer this question using the 3 way process. State the problem, give the solution and the outcome. Ideally use a real-life example.

        • Job Interview Question 3: Are you happy to work unsocial hours

Unsocial hours in retail often refers to late evenings and weekends. As this is a key factor in the retail sector you have to answer yes. When possible give examples of when you have been flexible with working hours

   

          • Job Interview Question 4: Give an example of working successfully in a team?

Again with this question you can use the 3 way process. State the problem, give the solution/team approach and the outcome. Ideally use a real-life example where you took charge of the team

        • Job Interview Question 5: What do you know about Boots and our products?

Do your research. The ideal applicant will know the products and customer base

        • Job Interview Question 6: What are your favorite products?

Compare the Boots product to products in competitive stores, explaining why the boots product is better value and quality

        • Job Interview Question 7: What do you know about our current range of products?

Pick a range and discuss how this range is different to competitors – what are the advantages from the customer’s point of view?

          • Job Interview Question 8: How would you help an elderly man in the store?

To answer situation questions, use a real-life example – again use the 3 step process; the elderly man wanted X but couldn’t Y, I A, B and C, this resulted in X, Y and Z – a happy customer

        • Job Interview Question 9: How would you sell this shampoo to a young woman?

Answer by explaining that you would discuss 2 products explaining the similarities and differences. This helps the customer feel like they have choice, but what often happens is the customer will buy one of the products. If you only discuss one product, the customer can buy or leave it.

        • Job Interview Question 10: Why do you want to work with boots

You need to show your passion for Boots. Why Boot’s and not topshop or Asda? If you want to work for boots, not any old retail store you are likely to stay saving money on recruitment.

        • Job Interview Question 11: Do you have any questions for me?

Good interview questions to ask interviewers at the end of the job interview include questions on the company growth or expansion, questions on personal development and training and questions on company values, staff retention and company achievements.     Many people are afraid of job interviews.

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Preparing Your Interview Answers for Maximum Impact

Maximum Impact Interview Answers

To beat the job interview competition the savvy interviewee will prepare each interview answer to maximize the impact each answer has on the interviewer.

Don’t fall into the trap of simply re-reading your CV the night before the interview, instead start preparing weeks ahead of the job interview – as soon as you receive the invitation to interview e-mail.

This way you will have time to predict each question, prepare each interview answer and ensure each answer sells you and your skills, work ethic and employment experience.

The simple 3 step process below, will help you prepare each interview answer (the examples we will concentrate on qualities and skills, but the same process can be used for experience related interview questions).

Step 1 Predicting the Interview Question

First think about the position you are applying for and ask yourself “what skills and qualities does the employer require me to possess?” and write a big list of required skills, qualities and experiences. You can also use the job specification or job profiles to predict the essential job criteria.

Step 2 Breakdown the Skill

Each essential job criteria requires a certain skill or quality. Create a mindmap for each required skill, as an example “Communication Skills” – ask yourself “how do you communicate?” – e-mail, face to face, telephone, fax, body language, sign language, etc. make this list as big as possible, there are no wrong answers be creative add anything you associate to communication (or your essential criteria)

Next think about a real example of when you have used this skill or quality and recorded it.

Step 3 Creating the Answer

Now you have a giant list of criteria and a breakdown of those particular criteria, you can now move onto the third stage – paragraphs. All you need to do here is put the breakdown of the criteria into a paragraph (and this doesn’t need to perfect yet)

Let’s use the communication example – remember at this stage the paragraph doesn’t need to read well as we are still in the ideas stage. “I communicate with everyday, over the phone and face to face. When talking over the phone I use my voice tone to build rapport and ask regular questions to ensure the other person is taking onboard what I am saying. When talking to people face to face, I use my body language to increase likeness and watch the other people’s body language and face gestures to check they agree with what I am saying”

Use real life examples show’s the employer two things; one you understand what their essential criteria is and more importantly you have implemented in previous roles (which is often taken for you can do that part of the job)

Your real life examples need to be related to the position you are applying for. In sales jobs communication skills and rapport building are key essential criteria, so you can edit your above profile using real life sales (or any position) experience

“In my previous sales position I was always on the monthly top 10 sales executive’s board often at the top, this is because I understand the importance of communicating with people over the phone. I would often use my voice tone to build rapport with customers and ask customers questions throughout the sales pitch to ensure they were listening to me…..”

You need to re-write your interview answer 3 times to ensure it really sell’s you. After each interview think about which answer worked well and which answers need improving. Reflecting on your interview answers allows you to improve with each and every job interview.

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Job Interview Peak Performance

To be your best in the job interview you need to know how to control your emotions, to access your positive mental state and to be at your job interview peak performance. There are no two ways about it, if you are at your peak mental state in the job interview you are more likely to be offered a job.

As an interview and confidence coach in Manchester, I support people to access their peak state which has led to my interviewing coaching clients receiving more job offers.  Today I will share a technique I use with my clients to boost their mental performance prior to the job interview.

Accessing Your Peak Performance

First, decide which mental state would work best for you. For many confidence is the key emotion that I will allow them to be their best in the job interview. The technique that you will learn is often used by athletes to access their peak performance prior to a game or event.

By following the simple steps below you can teach your mind to focus, increase confidence and to access its peak state.

Step 1 – Choose the state you would like to access

Step 2 – In a seat, close your eyes and take 10 deep breaths counting down on each out-breath
Step 3 – Notice how each breath helps you to relax a little bit more
Step 4 –  Remember a time you felt at your best; you being confident, in the zone, at your peak, focused, or any state that will help you to be the best
Step 5 – With your eyes closed, replay this time in your mind’s eye; see what you can see, hear what you can hear and feel those same positive emotions

Step 6 – Replay this memory and this time, imagine being their seeing things from your own eyes, hearing the positive self-talk and feeling the positive emotions at their peak
Step 7 – As you feel these emotions at the peak, start to spin the emotions, faster and stronger, stronger and faster until they double and triple in intensity
Step 8 – Now, take these feelings and imagine yourself in the future being positive before the job interview, being at your best in the job interview and spin these feelings stronger and faster, faster and stronger until you feel that you will get a job, that you will be successful, that you will be confident in the job interview
Step 9 – Repeat this exercise 3 times and notice how the strength of the emotion increases with every repeated go

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10 Strength Based Job Interview Questions

Strength-Based Job Interview Questions

A new style of job interviewing is becoming popular with employers in all sectors – strength-based interviewing.

Rather than using situation interviewing questions, where applicants give examples of their experiences, strength-based interviewing ask you questions on your strengths, preferences, and work style.

As with situation job interviewing, the interviewee can prepare their interview answers by predicting the job interview question.

Below are 10 strength-based interview questions, read the question and prepare your answer in preparation for any forthcoming job interview.

How to prepare for an interview

10 Strength-Based Interview Questions

Strength-Based Interview Question 1 – What energies you at work?

Strength-Based Interview Question 2 – What task or duties are you completing when you are using your strengths?

Strength-Based Interview Question 3 – Are you at your best when working in a team or when working on your own initiative?

Strength-Based Interview Question 4 – Which task engages you?

Strength-Based Interview Question 5 – Do you prefer starting or finishing tasks?

Strength-Based Interview Question 6 – Which task come naturally to you?

Strength-Based Interview Question 7 – Do you prefer following orders or completing tasks in your own way?

Strength-Based Interview Question 8 – Describe a successful day?

Strength-Based Interview Question 9 – What is important to you at work?

Strength-Based Interview Question 10 – Do you have any questions for me?

How to answer strength-based job interview questions

The idea for strength-based interveiw questions is for the interviewer to gain an ‘honest’ response from each applicant, as each strength-based question doesn’t have a right or wrong answer.

So be yourself, be truthful.

The idea here is to stop an interviewee from preparing high-scoring job interveiw answers. But applicants can and should prepare for their job interveiw.

When answering strength-based questions, use examples drawn from your industry experience to highlight your level of sector knowledge and your skillset. During the examples, focus the answer on what you did not what the ‘team’ achieved.

For multiple-choice questions, as an example ‘do you prefer starting or finishing tasks?,’ that you have no preference to (you can start or finish tasks) give an example for each option; ‘On X project I enjoyed starting X task because of Y, when working on A I enjoyed finishing the project because of B.’

Be prepared, when answering both options, to be challenged on your preference.

Interveiwers trained in strength-based interviewing will look for non-verbal communication cues to check the congruence of your words and communication.