Congratulations! Your resume has done its job. As you prepare for the next step, the interview, you need to be prepared to handle questions that could catch you flatfooted if you haven’t thought about them before.
1. One standard that is both an ice breaker and a means to evaluate potential employees is, “Tell me about yourself.”
This is not an invitation to ramble through your hobbies and personal life. The best way to handle this is to focus on your work history and why you are interested in the job.
Tell the story of what brings you to the interview. For example, “I’ve always had a passion for the wine industry. I grew up in the area and attended local schools and I’ve always wanted to be involved in wine production. In my last position I worked in the tasting room and now I’d like to put my skills to work in your cellar. I’m eager to interview with you and learn more about this opportunity.”
In addition to telling the interviewer about your work focus, the last sentence gently directs the conversation back to the interviewer and opens a dialogue, giving you a chance to demonstrate your listening skills. You do have listening skills, right?
2. Another standard is “Why did you leave your last job?” (Or, “Why do you want to leave your current job?”)
Whatever the circumstances, never bad mouth an employer, past or present. If you’re a temp, say something like, “When I took that assignment, I committed to stay through the transition to a new software system, so when I gave notice my supervisor wasn’t surprised since I fulfilled my commitment. Your position is the next logical step for me to take.”
Temp or not, the important points to emphasize is your reliability and accomplishments. There are as many reasons to change jobs as there are people. Just make sure you stay on point, and not drift off into emotional areas.
Finally, we are experts at interviewing. We debrief nearly everyone we send on interviews. If you’re preparing for an interview, stop by and see us. We can give you the real world questions that will help you do your best.