دى اجدد اسئلة الانترفيو الضيافة الجوية ّّّّّّّّّّّّّّّّّّّّّّّّّّّّّّّّّ QUESTION - TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF ? This is a common introductory question that many interviewers use to break the ice. It is designed to get you talking about something you know – You! A big mistake usually made by the majority of people is that they focus on their family, children, hobbies or home life. Whilst you may have some interesting facts about your personal life you should either avoid these, unless specifi cally asked, or keep them very brief. Try to answer this type of question based around your own personal achievements, educational background and ongoing studies. It is good to say that you are motivated or enthusiastic but you MUST ensure that you provide examples or scenarios where this has been proven. For example you might say, “I am a motivated person – whilst working for my previous employer I achieved ‘XYZ’, which enabled the company to achieve its goal in relation to increased profi t margins etc.” Giving specifi c, brief examples is positive. Remember that anyone can tell an interview panel that they are ‘motivated’, ‘enthusiastic’ or ‘determined’ but not everybody can prove it. Try to think about and use some of the following key words when structuring some of your answers: - Motivated - Self starter - Responsible - Enthusiastic - Dedicated - Committed - Reliable - Trustworthy - Initiative - Team player - Organised - Focused It is also a good idea to think of occasions where you have initiated projects or ideas at work, which have achieved results. INTERVIEW QUESTIONS/ANSWERS QUESTION - TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF ? Here is a sample response to the above question. Use it to prepare your own: “My strong points are that I am focused, enthusiastic and dedicated. For example, whilst working for my current employer I was successful in achieving my annual appraisal sales target with 4 months to spare. I like to ensure that I maintain a healthy balance between my personal and professional life. This helps me to maintain a high level of performance at work. I recently embarked on a Diploma course, which I am now half way through. I enjoy new challenges and like to take care of my own self development. I am an active person and enjoy visiting the gym 4 times a week. Some of my other hobbies include art, walking and cooking. I am a caring person and when I have the spare time I try to get involved in community events in my local town. I recently ran a half marathon raising £450 for a local charity. Overall I would say that I am a reliable, self conscious and hard working person who always looks for ways to improve.” TOP TIP You may have some literature or evidence that you can take along with you to the interview to prove to the panel that you are genuine. INTERVIEW QUESTIONS/ANSWERS QUESTION - ARE YOU FLEXIBLE? This question is designed to see if you are fl exible in relation to working hours? It is an indication that the job or role that you are applying for requires you to work extra hours or that the company will rely on you to be available when required within reason. The obvious and most appropriate answer to this question would be ‘Yes’. It is then best to follow your answer up with evidence that you are fl exible. You may have been required to be fl exible in your previous post or job and therefore you can give examples to demonstrate your fl exibility. QUESTION - ARE YOU WILLING TO RELOCATE? This is a diffi cult question to answer as the interviewer would not normally ask this type of question unless there was a requirement now or in the future to relocate. If you answer the question negatively with a ‘NO’ then there is a good chance that you will not get the job, so the obvious answer here would be yes. However, it is quite acceptable to ask questions at the end of the interview about relocation packages or the time that you would be expected to relocate. Most of us do not want to relocate and therefore there should be an incentive for a move. INTERVIEW QUESTIONS/ANSWERS QUESTION - WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS? When answering this type of question we would advise that you give work related examples. You should try to think of 3 good strengths that you possess and try to give an example of when you have used those strengths. You may be able to give an answer along the following lines: “One of my strengths is that I have the ability to implement change in diffi cult circumstances. For example whilst working for my previous employer I implemented XYZ under diffi cult and adverse conditions. The team were not happy with the changes that were being implemented but I managed to motivate them by……” This type of answer demonstrates to the panel that you are able to prove your strengths as opposed to just saying that you have them. Anyone can say that they are motivated, enthusiastic, dedicated or reliable but proving that you have those strengths is a different matter. Being able to demonstrate that you have strengths will give you higher scores. INTERVIEW QUESTIONS/ANSWERS QUESTION - WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WEAKNESS (OR WEAKNESSES)? Possibly the worst answer you can give for a question of this nature is that you don’t have any weaknesses. Being able to identify that you have weaknesses is a strength in itself and you should have at least 2 weaknesses that you can explain. Obviously it is important that you answer this question carefully as you could reduce your chances of success if you sell yourself in a negative light. Possibly a good example to use is as follows: “In my previous job I found it diffi cult to delegate work to others. I can be a bit of a perfectionist and like a job or task to be done correctly to a high standard. Unfortunately this lack of trust caused problems within my team and a member of staff approached me to tell me they were not happy with the way I was working. I took their comments on board and decided to ask the rest of the team if they felt the same. The feedback I received was along the same lines – that the majority of people felt I should delegate more work and responsibility to them. Following this feedback I decided to change my style of approach and began to delegate more work, placing greater trust on my colleagues. This had a very positive effect and the workload increased dramatically as a result of this change. Morale within the team improved too and now I hold regular feedback meetings with my colleagues to see how we can improve.” This type of response identifi es that you have a weakness but also identifi es a number of strengths. It shows that you have the ability to look at yourself and make changes where needed. Accepting constructive criticism is one thing but doing something about it is another. This also leads on to another possible ‘Strength’ quality in the fact that you have the strength to identify your weaknesses and do something about them! INTERVIEW QUESTIONS/ANSWERS QUESTION - DO YOU ENJOY WORKING IN A TEAM ENVIRONMENT? The answer to this type of question all depends on the type of job you are applying for. If you are applying for a team role then obviously you need to answer this in a manner that shows you are a team player. Conversely if you are applying for a position that involves a lot of ‘lone working’ then it is a good idea to say that you feel comfortable working on your own. Possibly the best answer for this type of question is to state that you are adaptable and can work in any environment. Again, if you can give examples of situations where you have been an effective team member or achieved results independently then this is far better. SAMPLE RESPONSE “In a previous role I was required to work as part of a 30 strong sales team. I really enjoyed the atmosphere within that team and managed to learn so much from other members. Yes I do enjoy working in a team environment but conversely my adaptability allows me to work in any environment. I would say that I can work either as a team or individual depending on the requirements of the role.” INTERVIEW QUESTIONS/ANSWERS QUESTION - DO YOU TAKE RISKS? A tricky question to answer but it all depends on the type of company or organisation you are applying to join. If the company is a well established, steady organisation that has achieved its success over a long period of time, building a reliable name for itself, then it is wise to veer on the side of safety and state that you are not a great risk taker. However, if the company of organisation has recently started up and is competing in a highly competitive industry then a level of risk taking may be commensurate to this role. If you do decide to say that you are a risk taker then it is a good idea to give examples of calculated risks you have taken. Make certain that you emphasise you would not take a risk unless you were positive of a successful outcome and that you would never jeopardise the company. It is always best to seek advice from Senior Managers if unsure and this is something that you would always do unless you were certain of the outcome. INTERVIEW QUESTIONS/ANSWERS QUESTION - ARE YOU AN EFFECTIVE TIME MANAGER? Time management is undoubtedly a skill not everyone possesses. Being able to manage your time effectively is not easy but there are some great ways of demonstrating your time management qualities. When you get into work you already know what you are going to achieve by the end of the day. During the fi nal 30 minutes of your working day you plan the following day’s activities and tasks in order of priority. You make sure that you keep a list of important objectives and tasks and cross them off when they are completed. If you are chairing meetings then you keep irrelevant discussion to an absolute minimum and you always ensure you fi nish on time. You are acutely aware of others’ valuable time as well as your own and make certain that time is not wasted unnecessarily. The company’s objectives are key to your time management. The above information gives you a number of time management tools to use when constructing your answer. It is also important to remember to emphasise that you are fl exible with your time where need be and that you reorganise appointments, meetings or tasks in order to meet specifi c important deadlines. INTERVIEW QUESTIONS/ANSWERS QUESTION - WHAT ARE YOU LIKE AT TAKING CRITISISM FROM LINE/ SENIOR MANAGERS? Regardless of how you think you would react, it is important to tell the interview panel that you look at this in a positive manner. Of course you do not want to portray an image that you are a pushover but an answer along the following lines would be acceptable: “Whilst working for my current employer, a situation arose where I has heavily criticised for a mistake that I had made. At the time of the criticism I felt hurt and could not understand what I had done wrong. After a short period of time I realised that I was wrong and the criticism was justifi ed. I understand that not everybody is perfect and when we make mistakes it is the ability to move on and improve for next time that is important. I spoke with my line manager after the mistake was made, apologised and made certain I improved my performance in that area.” The above type of response identifi es that you have the ability to accept criticism but also that you are sensitive to it too. Nobody likes criticism of any kind but in this response you have shown that you did not get angry, defensive or arrogant but instead you turned a negative situation into a positive one. INTERVIEW QUESTIONS/ANSWERS QUESTION - HOW WOULD YOU RESOLVE A DISPUTE WITH A COLLEAGUE? Everybody has disputes with colleagues at some point in their career so it is not wise to say that you’ve never had one. You may get on with the majority of people most of the time but it is good to say that you had an issue with a colleague years ago and describe how it was resolved. You could state that you were the one who initiated the resolution by talking to them to try to clear the air. This is a good opportunity to demonstrate you have good communication skills and are prepared to listen to what others have to say. Maybe you took the colleague’s comments on board and agreed a way forward? It is a good idea to show that you are able to resolve issues with other colleagues without involving senior or line managers. However, if the dispute was in contravention to the company’s policies on bullying or harassment then you would feel it was important to report the incident to your line manager. INTERVIEW QUESTIONS/ANSWERS QUESTION - WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU SAW SOMEONE BEING BULLIED? There is only one answer to this type of question – Stop it! If you cannot stop it then you should inform your line manager. Make sure you say that you would be sensitive to the needs of the person who was being bullied but also that you would not tolerate such behaviour. You would take time to talk to the person who was on the receiving end of such behaviour and support/comfort them. Dependant on their wishes you would consider informing their line manager. It is important that you also say you would read the company’s policy on bullying and harassment if they have one. If you can obtain of copy of this before the interview then it is good practice to read it. Always remember that this type of behaviour is not tolerated, both in society and in employment. You and the employer have a responsibility under current regulations to prevent such behaviour. INTERVIEW QUESTIONS/ANSWERS HAVE YOU EVER HELD A POSITION THAT WASN’T RIGHT FOR YOU? The only right answer for this kind of question is ‘NO’. The problem with answering yes is that you would have to explain how you ended up getting a job that wasn’t right for you. Don’t give them any reason to think that this job will be wrong for you. SAMPLE RESPONSE “No I have never been in that position. I am always very careful about the jobs that I apply for. I don’t believe it would be fair on either myself or the company I was applying to join if I got a job that wasn’t right for me. For instance, I know that this job is right for me. I have carried out extensive research on this role and visited the company prior to the interview to ensure that if I am successful today, I will be good at the job but more importantly, good for the organisation.” INTERVIEW QUESTIONS/ANSWERS QUESTION - WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 5 YEARS TIME? An extremely common question amongst interview panels. Be careful how you answer this one. I have been on interview panels where people say ‘I don’t know, I’ll see what happens.’ Not a very good answer at all. I’ve also had people who tell me they want my position! Whilst I don’t disbelieve them I believe this shows a sign of arrogance rather than confi dence. Try to structure your answer in a way that shows you are positive but not overconfi dent. A good answer may be along the following lines: “I believe I am the right person for this job. If successful I would like to further develop my skills and knowledge by initially learning all I can about the role and the organisation. I would also like to enrol on an educational programme in order to develop my skills and work towards a higher position within the company. Above all I will be looking to have developed considerably both personally and professionally in 5 years time.” INTERVIEW QUESTIONS/ANSWERS QUESTION - IF YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL HOW LONG DO YOU PLAN TO STAY WITH THE COMPANY? You need to imply that you intend on staying with the company for a long time. It is no good an organisation investing time, effort and resources on you if you do not plan on staying with them. You have identifi ed that they are the company you want to work for and therefore you should want to commit your future to them. All the time you are contributing effectively towards the company’s desired achievements then you will be a part of them. If you say that you only plan to stay with them for a few years before moving on then they are unlikely to employ you. They want to know that they are going to get a substantial return for their investment. SAMPLE RESPONSE “I have looked into both this role and the organisation. I have been impressed with the ambitions and plans that the company have. With that in mind I plan to stay with you for a long time if I am successful. Furthermore, I am serious about my application for this position and excited about the prospect of working with you.” INTERVIEW QUESTIONS/ANSWERS QUESTION - WHY ARE YOU LOOKING TO LEAVE YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYMENT? Obviously not a good idea to state that you are leaving because of differences with a manager or member of the team. It is far better to say that you are looking for new and fresh challenges and feel that you achieved all that you can at the company. Most people want a higher salary but it is not a good idea to use this example as the sole reason for your intention to move organisations. By stating you would like a new challenge you will demonstrate drive and enthusiasm. SAMPLE RESPONSE “Although I enjoy my current job I am now ready for a new challenge. I have worked hard for my previous employer and they have been good to me in return. I have learnt an awful lot during my time with them but I am now in a position where I want to embark on new and fresh challenges. I will be leaving my current company with fond memories but I know the time is right for me to move on. Having looked into your company and the role that I’m applying for I feel that I have so much to offer in terms of my experience, drive and enthusiasm and know that I would be a valuable asset to the team.” INTERVIEW QUESTIONS/ANSWERS QUESTION - WHY SHOULD WE GIVE YOU THE JOB? You need to give the interview panel an answer that benefi ts them and not just yourself. Yes of course you are the best person for the job but don’t say that unless you can back it up with examples of why. You have the ability to work in a fast changing environment that requires commitment, drive and enthusiasm. You are capable of achieving great things for their organisation and thrive under pressurised situations. For example in your previous role you were given a deadline of 3 days to achieve a highly complex task that required a high level of motivational skills to get the task completed on time. You brought the team together, briefed them on what was expected and monitored each stage of progress carefully. You can make a positive impact on sales/profi t or turnover and are dependable in every situation to deliver what is required. This type of question can make or break you and you should be prepared with a hard-hitting positive response. Be enthusiastic when responding and give brief examples of why you are the right person compared to the next candidate. INTERVIEW QUESTIONS/ANSWERS QUESTION - I’M CONSIDERING GIVING THE POSITION TO THE PERSON WHO WE LAST INTERVIEWED. TELL MY WHY I SHOULDN’T? This question is very similar to the last one but is a little bit more ruthless. Basically you need to sell yourself even more and be positive in your response. Try to adapt the following response to your own individual attributes: “Because I genuinely believe that I’m the best person for the job. I understand that there are other people who have the ability to do this job and are highly capable. But I know that I also have that ability. Along with that I bring additional qualities that make me the very best person for the job. My attitude and commitment towards achieving excellence for example. In my previous role I achieved excellence time and time again. For example, ……………. I also constantly look for ways to improve myself. To that end I have embarked on an educational course to improve my skills in XYZ. If I am successful today I promise I will impress you and will not let you down. If I am not successful then I will be applying for the next vacancy as I would love to work for your company.” INTERVIEW QUESTIONS/ANSWERS QUESTION - WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT ABOUT OUR COMPANY? If you have taken our advice in earlier pages then you will be able to answer this question with relative ease. Try to state who their major competitors are, understand the vision and expectations of the company and know internal information on the size, structure and organisation of the company. Your research is paramount to your success and shows that you haven’t just turned up on the day to make the numbers up. You are serious about this position and by learning all you can about the company, their products and services, you will demonstrate a commitment before you have begun. QUESTION - WHAT SALARY DO YOU EXPECT? Some positions are open to negotiation and studies have shown that those who ask for a higher salary usually get it. However, it is important that you can show the panel you are worth the increase in salary. It is pointless saying you want X salary if you cannot say why you deserve it. Maybe you have external qualifi cations or have a proven track record for delivery. All of these qualities will help you achieve an increased salary but don’t go in too high. Make sure you research the role and see what other similar organisations are paying for that particular role. It is far better to get slightly less than you asked for than to get exactly what you asked for in the fi rst place. You don’t want to leave the interview feeling you could have got a greater salary. INTERVIEW QUESTIONS/ANSWERS QUESTION - WHAT QUALITIES DO YOU BELIEVE A SUCCESFUL MANAGER SHOULD HAVE? You are more likely to be asked this type of question if you are applying for a managerial position. If you are then this question is designed to fi nd out what you will be like as a manager. Obviously managers are required to lead and be great role models for the organisation. Have a look at the following response and use it to structure your own answer. “The key quality should be leadership and the ability to look ahead towards the horizon. The manager needs to be ten steps ahead and already making plans for the future. They also should be good role models and lead by example. Approachable, fair and enthusiastic are other important qualities but above all a successful manager needs to lead when things aren’t going as planned. It is his or her responsibility to lift a team out of a diffi cult period and motivate people to achieve the vision of the organisation. The highest calling of a true leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their abilities. The company’s aims, objectives and vision are what the manager should work towards and have at the forefront of his/her mind at all times
Posted on: Mon, 22 Jul 2013 07:07:20 +0000
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