April 14th, 2010 | |
Posted in Career
What is the matter with your current job that makes you want to join us and what do we offer that is attractive to you that your current employer cannot?
The interviewer is asking for a direct comparison between your current employer and your future employer. An interviewer wants to hear that you are a valued member in your current / previous role. You have worked for an organization that has trained you to a high level and you have been providing a strong contribution to their skilled workforce. They hope to leverage these skills in their organization.
A typical answer which deals with such a comparison should read ‘My current organization has been a great career move for me I have learned many new skills eg. x. There is a great team ethic and I feel I have made a strong contribution to their sales team / office / project team etc.’. ‘However I see your organization and the role on offer as a new challenge which can leverage my skills and allow me to challenge myself set new goals and further my career in a way that the current organization perhaps doesn’t offer.’
Of course this answer needs to be tailored to meet your particular circumstances. Start by listing what you like about your current organization and the experience you have gained. Compare this with the list of skills and benefits you expect to find in the new organization. Use this list to tailor your answer. Stay clear of talking about money. The sub text of this question and so many others like it is the interviewer is asking ‘What’s in it for me?’
You should be replying I am making a contribution and this is how so include examples of how you can make the contribution, which backs up your claims. By saying you want to leverage your skills in the new role and show how you can make a strong contribution is precisely what the interviewer wants to hear. If you say or even imply the reason for the new job is that you are looking for more money or additional benefits, then this does not imply you are making a contribution to the new organization. You are in fact saying this is ”what is in it for me” and does not address the interviewers needs!
The negative questioning are the least popular for an interviewee. Try this question, how would you deal with it? What would be your least favorite task in the new job?
A nasty question. The interviewer probes for negatives and then pounces to delve deeper. It can be unsettling. Beware of this trap. Continuous negative questioning sets a negative mood and harm your chances of interview success.
Turn the question round and give a ‘model answer’, which portrays no negativity. ‘In an ideal world I would like to avoid any bureaucracy or red tape which can delay decisions. Like anyone I am always keen for good progress to be made at all times and everything to run smoothly’.
‘I would like to avoid the situation in the last role where we had tight deadlines and 3 of my staff went off on long term sick with the winter flu last year. Although we achieved our targets it was only through hard effort, team-work and long hours’. See how these answers portray you in a good light and turn a negative into a positive. Make sure you have prepared an answer otherwise you could see yourself stumbling!
Another thing is length of the answer. There is enough to give the interviewer enough to assimilate the response. If the answer is too short the interviewer will feel you have avoided answering fully. If its too long then you are spending too long discussing a potential negative. Also anyone who talks too much in an answer can be perceived as not being totally honest. Of course only if you have something to hide!
What personal attributes do you bring to the role and ……..Why should I hire you? (is the same question just phrased differently).
This is where you need to have a personal pitch of 2 -3 sentences prepared. This needs to relate to the job description. Go through the qualities listed line by line. Then add in the additional personal qualities that you bring to the role. It is always worth using a qualifying phrase such as ‘colleagues have said of me…I am a great motivator/team builder/technician etc.’. It sounds better if there is a 3rd party endorsement. It doesn’t sound like you are bragging but a colleague is speaking on your behalf. In addition you will need to have relevant examples which you can offer to expand on. The personal qualities for the role will be attributes such as hard-working, motivating, good communication skills, desire to succeed You should end your answer with a statement such as ‘ do you think these qualities are what you are looking for from a successful candidate?’. It plants a seed in the mind of the interviewer that they are.
If they reply that they were expecting other qualities then discuss them and offer examples of how you have these and examples of these in action. You need to leave the interviewer in no doubt you have the skills and can demonstrate this with examples.
A job interview often comes down to the job interviewer probing for weaknesses. Here is a question often posed that needs rehearsing before the interview ‘I see from your resume that you have never actually been in this role in any of your previous companies. How are you going to manage?’
Firstly this is an obvious weakness. Weakness means risk to an employer and they are looking for re-assurance that you will adapt to the new environment. Relate your previous experience to similar situations where you moved departments and had a new role or were faced with new technology which you had to learn quickly.
Turn it round into a positive about ‘how you are able to adapt and have a flexible approach to work. How you can easily pick up new skills.’
Broaden the answer…… ‘we all face a fast moving and changing world constantly presenting new challenges. I have always risen to these and performed effectively despite limited current knowledge of the product, tight deadlines, little support etc’. Again and to emphasize go on to list examples of similar experiences where you have demonstrated such skills. This should paint a positive picture and reassure the interviewer. Remember you would not have an interview if the interviewer thought you were not capable!
Final question is what do you think the company expects from you in terms of responsibilities?
The interviewer is looking for an answer which includes personal skills such as hard work, enthusiasm, professionalism, passion, honesty. Additionally you can express your enthusiasm for the companies products and services and comment on how you see your responsibilities as adding value or increasing sales/profits/turnover. Of course your answer will need to be tailored to the situation.
Again, close your answer asking the interviewer if that was what they were expecting or you as the main responsibilities.
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