Is that your final answer?

October 19, 2009 by Renata Follmann 

Answering your interview questions tactfully can be difficult – let our panel of recruitment experts be your life line

You finally got that interview after weeks of waiting. It’s smooth sailing from here on out, right?

Wrong.

On your way, you get stuck in traffic, barely make it on time and finally shake the recruiter’s hand with your sweaty palm.

You sit down and the interview begins. Your jaw plops open silently. You can’t even answer the first few questions.

But not to worry: we gathered some of the most common questions and asked some experts in the subject to give their insight.

Tell me about yourself.

“This is probably the most commonly asked interview question and it is usually one of the first questions asked,” said UNLV career counselor Katharine Johnson.

Johnson also said this is the time for the candidate to pitch his or herself in 60 seconds, including academic background, work experience and personal attributes relevant to the position.

“Tell the employer what is unique about your qualifications and professional accomplishments,” Johnson said. “Employers want to hear your passion.”

Why do you want to work for this organization?
This is the time to show you did your homework.

“Students should thoroughly research the company they’re interviewing with before they go to the interview,” said Nichole Washington, CityCenter group recruiter manager.

Washington also advised that whatever students learned from the research could be used as a conversation starter.

What do you know about this organization?

“This is probably one of the most important questions an interviewer can ask you,” Washington said.

She explained employers want to know “if applicants [took] the initiative to learn a little about the background, culture and current projects of the organization and the names of their key executives,” Washington said.

Not knowing these key points shows a lack of interest or preparation, which could result in rejection.

After a long talk about the company the candidate is interviewing for, employers want to know about the past asking the sometimes dreadful:

Why are you leaving your current job?

“This would not be the time to bring up that you are working too hard and not making enough,” said Brent Losee, NV Energy corporate recruiter.

It’s a sign that maybe the candidate is not suited for long hours of hard work or will never be satisfied — both negative points.

“If that is the case, I would spin it to make it sound more like you are looking for more responsibility and a step in the right direction for your career,” Losee said.

Johnson, agreed saying that “this is not about leaving something behind, but rather moving ahead.”

And speaking of money…

What do you feel this position should pay?

“Stating a salary too low may make you look uninformed and stating a salary too high may make you look unrealistic,” Johnson warned.

It is common sense that no one wants to get underpaid but also it could become embarrassing to ask for too much. According to the experts, the word of the moment is research.

“Do your research in advance and have a clear idea of what this type of position would typically pay, keeping in mind the geographic area of the country and your level of experience,” Johnson said.

The UNLV Career Services Web site hire.unlv.edu has salary survey results of recent UNLV graduates.

What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

And as in any other question, there are ways to answer this question without sounding like an underachiever or superman.

“Make sure you have thought of something to say because you know this question will be asked,” Losee said.

One answer that should be avoided according to Washington is, “I don’t have any weaknesses.”
For her, the cliché answer “I’m a hard worker” should also be avoided. “Instead, talk about your ability to deliver quality work on time,” Washington said.

One thing all experts agreed on is that everyone has weaknesses.

“It’s a tough answer, but the best bets are to take a weakness and spin it into something positive or to pick a weakness that doesn’t pertain to your potential new job,” Losee said.

For Johnson, the best way of doing so is to show the employer the candidate is aware of the weakness but is working toward eliminating it and knows the solution for it. “Talk about how you have been combating it and then tie it into one of your strengths,” said Johnson.

“For example, if you have a problem with self-motivation, talk about how you have been creating lists to manage your time and how your strengths in organization and prioritizing are a key part of how you are overcoming your weakness,” Johnson explained.

As far as strengths, be specific. It is important to tie your skills with a work related experience.

Do you have any questions for me?

To end the interview with a golden key, employers realize that they have been doing all the questioning, so they give the applicants a chance to ask back.

The rule of thumb here is to always have a question. The topics can be about anything the company’s history and opportunities for growth, to a typical day in that position.

“This is a great opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the position and your knowledge of the company,” Johnson said.

Washington also agreed with the level of importance of having a follow up questions, saying that it “shows a level of interest and ingenuity that can put you well ahead of other candidates they are considering”

According to Johnson, you should avoid asking about salary or vacation schedules.

It is important to keep in mind there are several ways to answer these questions. What makes one candidate stand out more than the others in interviews is their level of readiness.

“The easy part of the interview is that all the answers are out there,” Losee said.

“You just need to be prepared.”