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Interview Questions and Answers What is your role when working in a team?

What is your role when working in a team?

Teamwork based interview questions are really common in the job interview.

Approach this interview question by focusing on your natural position when in a team or research the job criteria and discuss how you have the desired criteria such as “leadership”

Interview Video Tutorial – ” what is your role when working in a team?”

Interview Question What is your role when working in a team?

Explanation of the Question:

You will find that in different teams your roles change. This is a good way to answer this question unless you are applying for a management job when you need to be the team leader.

Example Interview Answer

“In different teams and in different projects I think we all have different roles, as different team members will have different strengths and experiences depending on the team’s goal. One of my roles in a team is to ensure everyone has a say and is listened to, as some of the quieter team members will have a good idea and may not have the confidence to mention it.”

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Interview Question Have you ever resolved a dispute between others?

Have you ever resolved a dispute between others?

The interview question have you ever resolved a dispute between others is often asked in supervisory job interviews. If you have never been in this situation you need explain what you would do.

Interview Video Tutorial “Have you ever resolved a dispute between others?”

Have you ever resolved a dispute between others?

If you haven’t, explain what you would do. If you have discuss what you did and how you found out what the dispute was about, you gained everyone’s side of the story and how you resolved the dispute. This will highlight your people and communication skills.

Example Interview Answer

“I recently walked in on two people arguing at work, there was a big deadline due and everyone was feeling the pressure. When I came into the room and asked both people to take a minute and to sit down. This automatically calmed the situation. I asked each person to tell me there side of the story without the other person interrupting. In the end both people wanted the same result, but was coming at from a different angle and didn’t realise the other person had the same goal.”

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The James Bond Interview Strategy

Be James Bond In the Job Interview

With the imminent release of the latest James Bond film “Spectre” we ask, how would James Bond use his secret service skills to influence the job interview and can you replicate the James Bond strategy in your next job interview?

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Bond has psychological tendencies, he is manipulative, persuasive and charismatic. Bond will do whatever it takes to achieve his mission and wouldn’t think twice about using these same tactics in the job interview.

Turn Your Emotions Off

Bond to get what he wants takes advantage of others, sleeping with women for information, using his charm and influence to create likability with others, getting them to do what he wants them to do.

Manipulation is only achieved by turning your emotions off. Emotional people will feel sorry for the person they are manipulating and won’t follow through with the persuasion. To persuade effectively your focus is on the end game, not the persons feelings.

In the job interview, Bond wouldn’t see the interviewer as anything more then  a target. His mission would be to charm the interviewer, creating deep rapport and likability. James would persuade the interviewer with charm, wit and by telling the employer whatever they wanted to hear.

Bond would go as far as charming the interviewer with a winning smile or when called for, outlandish flirting. Confidence is the key to manipulation, and Bond oozes confidence and charisma – a winning formula. As an under cover agent, Bond would even play the spy game, creating a “cover” who has the experience and skills the employer desires.

Ask, Don’t Answer

In all the Bond films, Bond at one stage or another is caught by the bad guys. Before killing Bond, the baddies ask Bond questions, designed to reveal his secrets. Rather than simply answering questions, Bond asks his own questions, often uncovering the unsuspecting baddies’ plan to take over the world.

The same tactic adopted for the job interview works well. When asked questions relating to an experience or skill you don’t possess, you can simply deflect the question by answering a different unasked question, or even as Bond would do, you can simply exaggerate the truth or at the extreme, lie.

When answering questions, turn this on its head and expand your answer by questioning the interviewer, make them talk, create a flow in the interview as this allows the interviewer to open up, giving you secret insights into criteria the employer wants you to possess. Once these snippets of information have gleamed you can then add these to your next interview answer, impressing the employer.

Create Visual Influence

Bond doesn’t simply use words, a secret identity or cleverly answered interview answers to influence and manipulate the job interview, Bond also uses visual stimulus. Bond, dressed in his tuxedo, polished black shoes and double cuffed shirts, looks like a well-groomed model.

His every gesture, facial expression, stance, walk and eye contact ooze charm, confidence and charisma. Women and baddies both, on seeing James for the first time are influenced by the way he holds himself, the tone of voice he chooses and his perfect eye contact.

Employers meeting you for the first time immediately make an impression about you within milliseconds of meeting you. Visually you need to look the part as this is the set up for the following manipulation of the job interviewer. Get this part right, the rest of the interview manipulation will come with ease, just as Bond always gets his man and wins the day.

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Interview Questions and Answers What qualities do you look for in a boss?

What qualities do you look for in a boss?

Often this interview question “what qualities are you looking for in a boss?” is asked when the employer has previously had employees and managers that haven’t worked well together. They are using the interview to ensure they will hire an employee that well excel under their current management style.

Interview Video Tutorial “what qualities do you look for in a boss?”

What qualities do you look for in a boss?

Explanation of the Question:

Use a generic answer and stay positive

Example Interview Answer

“A boss who is knowledgeable, fair, loyal”  

Remember the skills needed a the job specification, if they require someone who is creative (or any other job criteria) say

“A manager who will allow me to be creative (criteria) ..”

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What Questions Do You Ask at the Job Interview?

Interview coaches teach interviewees to prepare for the job interview.

It can be hard to prepare for the job when no one really knows what questions will be asked by your future employer.

One question you can prepare for is the most commonly asked interview question, the one question you will always be asked “do you have any questions for me?”

Interview Question Do you have any questions for me?

Interview Video Tutorial “do you have any questions for me?”

Explanation of the Question:

Most interviewers ask this question and generally towards the end of the interview. Remember to prepare for this, as asking questions will be a great end to an excellent interview.

Don’t ask about salaries or holidays etc until you have been offered a job position.

Example Questions to Ask

  • “Do you have any future plans to expand the company?”
  • “Does your team work well together?”
  • “Have you put in any new bids for any new contracts?”
  • “What is the company’s policy on personal development and training?”
  • “Where do you see the company being in 5 years time” 

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Interview Question and Answer Can you tell me about your Gap Year?

The job interview question “can you tell me about your gap” is the employer really checking of you took the opportunity during your year off to gain new skills and experience. Often this interview question is asked during graduate job interviews.

Video Tutorial – “Can You Tell About Your Gap Year?”  

Explanation of the Question:

Many career professionals  take a gap year after university, when asked this question the employer is looking if you “bummed” around or did something “interesting” explain how your gap year gave you new skills you can use in your job

Example Interview Answer

“After completing my accountancy degree I took a gap year and travelled and work in Asia, it was a  great personal experience and again a lot of “life lessons” from the experience.  It was also beneficial in my last role, as we had several clients in Asia and was able to use my experience to build up company relationships” 

Make your own “gap year” experience and your skill base relevant to the position you are applying for.

 

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Job Interview Question and Answer Why Did You Choose this Career?

Employers also want to hire passionate employees as they tend to put more effort into their work compared to that of an employee who is in it for the money.

In this interview question “why did you choose your career?” explain your passion, skills and commitment.

Interview Question “Why Did You Choose This Career?” Video

Interview Question Why did you choice this career?

We all have a different story to tell, some us “fall” into a career, while others had a career goal from an early age.

Use this question to highlight your passion for your career and add in information on your experiences.

Passion + experience = a good employee.

Example Interview Answer

“I have always wanted a job “helping” people, after university I took any job I could take and ended up working a an Male Hostel, 10 years later I am still in the same industry, I just love that my work helps others improve their lives. I have learnt so much over these 10 years that helps me quickly move people forward.”  

 

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Interview Question and Answer Tell Me About a Suggestion You Have Made?

This question tells you the company is looking for team players and forward-thinking people, you can use this knowledge in your answer.

Use a real-life example of when you put a suggestion forward, the situation, how it developed and the outcome.

Work-related experiences work best here.

“In my previous company, the management team was asked to suggest ideas how we could break a new policy to the workforce, that long term would save jobs but the short term could potentially upset some of the workforces. As a team, we discussed several ideas and I personally suggested the idea that was used, with great success”

The interview will be intrigued with the ending of this answer and will most defiantly probe you further.

Interview Video Tutorial “Tell Me About a Suggestion You Have Made?”

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Interview Questions and Answers How Will You Be An Asset To Us?

Open job interview questions such as “why should we hire you?” are great as you can really sell yourself here.

When planning for this interview question ensure you understand the essential criteria from the job specification and think about your own unique selling point, that additional key element that you can bring to the organisation.

Interview Video – how will you be an asset to our organisation?

Interview Question Why should we hire you?

Think about the job specification and the skills needed for this role.  Have a paragraph prepared highlighting how you will be able to complete the job and what you can bring to the team.

Example Interview Answer

“Im the type of person who enjoys getting the job or task completed. I am driven, hard working and have excellent time management. I have worked in this sector for over 10 years and have made excellent contacts that will be useful to any employer who hires me”

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Why Did You Leave Your Last Position?

When any negative put interview questions including “why did you leave your last position?” you need to re-frame your answer to a positive, focusing on your career prospects and your skill base.

Interview Q&A Tutorial – why did you leave your last position?

Interview Question “Why did you leave your last position?”

Be positive with this answer and smile – employers like to hear that you left for a good opportunity or reason, a chance to do something special or for a good career move.

  • Start the answer with a look back
  • Explain what you enjoyed about your previous role
  • Give a Positive reason for leaving

Example Interview Answer

“I enjoyed working at Company Name and really enjoyed the interaction of working with a wide range of individuals-I feel I gained a lot of transferrable skills from this experience, which I can use in this role. It was a hard choice to leave but I felt that this great opportunity is the next obvious step for me”