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Why Should We Hire You? Interview Question

The interview may be going well, you have dodged some questions you thought may have tripped you up and you have the interviewer eating out of the palm of your hand. They appear impressed by your qualifications and experience, and the interview itself is about to be wrapped up. Then as a final question the interviewer throws this curve ball in your direction. If you are prepared for it, you will most likely take it in your stride. If not, this could set you off into a mumbling and bumbling end to what was a fairly stress free and successful interview.

The idea behind this question is that you will have spent so much time focussing on swatting up on the company, you will have paid an inadequate amount of time to having answers prepared about your most valuable asset. Yourself.

See also: What challenges are you looking for in a position?

Although this question may seem to be a difficult one to tackle. In truth, you will have already answered this question, in bits throughout the interview. Now you simply need to gather in the fragments and give them a structure before confidently delivering your answer.
 
You should start by structuring your response to highlight how you meet the requirements of the job. You can add in some key characteristics you believe they are looking for and then we should be getting towards a strong answer. This is an opportunity to blatantly advertise yourself, so leave out anything negative.

For example,

"I have spent the last 12 years working in the vibration analysis. I have achieved an NVQ level 3 in this field which exceeds your requirement for a level 2. My references show that I am hard working and a trustworthy and reliable individual who can work well alone or as part of team. In my last job the routines I set up on three production lines resulted in massive maintenance savings when compared with three lines at another branch. These savings have shown the importance of non destructive examination and I am considered a leader in this industry."

As long as you rehearse your own tailored answer, you should have no problem delivering a well structured and confident answer to what can be an awkward question.

photo by: mdennes

  
Receptionist interview: tips and questions.

The receptionist is usually the first voice heard, and first person seen, by clients or customers contacting a company.  Although it may not appear to be particularly complicated career choice, it is; in fact, particularly important.  The receptionist’s role can be one which gains or loses the company a considerable amount of business.

A receptionist needs to have a good standard of English, excellent phone manner, accurate typing and must be exceptionally polite when speaking to the general public or clients.  There are many tasks a receptionist will do on a daily basis, including taking messages, receiving mail and signing for special delivery items, general clerical work and filing, booking appointments and in some companies, keeping holiday schedules.

A receptionist must be reliable, cheerful, know where everyone is, and what their role is, must be able to manage a busy telephone system, whilst remaining calm and keeping their cool.

A good general education is necessary, but a university degree isn’t required.

Read more:

– Receptionist CV Example

– Receptionist CV Template

– Receptionist cover letter example

The interview

Although there are receptionists of all ages, the majority of them start after leaving school or college.  This may be the first interview which you have attended and so you are likely to be nervous.  Find out some information about the company before the interview, and then if you are asked if you have any questions, you can comment or enquire about something on the website.  This also shows the interviewer that you are interested in the company.

What can you do for this company? Interview Question
Why are you the best person for the job? Interview Question
Is there anything I haven’t told you? Interview Question
What do you know about this company? Interview Question
Why do you want to work here? Interview Question

Dress smartly for the interview, although it isn’t necessary to wear a suit.  Make sure that you know where the company is, and take a practice run the day before so you are certain where you are going.  Allow plenty of time for travelling and arrive at the interview in good time.

When you meet the interviewer, make sure that you smile.  When you answer questions, keep the answer straightforward, and keep on the topic.  Look at the interviewer and not at the floor.  If you don’t hear a question properly, ask for it to be repeated.  If the interviewer wants more information from you, they will prompt you with another question.

Are you willing to travel? Interview Question
What are your salary expectations? Interview Question
Describe a difficult work situation project and how you overcame it
Give some examples of teamwork – Interview Question
What motivates you? Interview Question and Answer
What is your greatest weakness? Interview Question
Why do you want this job? Interview Question
What is your greatest strength? Interview Question

The interviewer may suggest that they can arrange day release at college.  It is always good to accept these offers which may lead to a qualification, and may mean that you get an increase in salary.

Tell me about yourself.
Why should we hire you?

The interviewer will make it obvious when the interview has ended.  Thank him and ensure that you say that you would like the job if it is offered to you.

View more typical interview questions.

  
Interview Tips and Questions for Waitress

Although being a Waitress isn’t considered to be a skilled job, there are several attributes necessary to be successful.  Many students look for part-time waitressing work and this is often their first paid employment.

A Waitress needs to look smart and take care with their appearance.  Hair and nails need to be groomed – you wouldn’t want your meal being served by someone with dirty fingernails!  Good hygiene is essential for everyone who works in the catering industry.  There may be a simple uniform – often a black skirt and white blouse or top but is there isn’t this is still a good choice.  Wear comfortable shoes as you will be on your feet for several hours.  A Silver-Service Waitress will need specific training, but they will usually have had some restaurant experience.

A wage for a Waitress is usually the minimum allowed for the age of the applicant.  There are opportunities to increase the basic wage by earning tips for good service.  Some establishments arrange for all tips to be collected and divided out to all staff, but in other restaurants each Waitress retains their own tips.

If the Waitress is unhappy for some reason they should still always smile at the customer.  Always be polite, and be attentive so that when diners have finished eating the dirty plates can be removed almost immediately. The customer will leave a larger tip if the service from the Waitress has been good but don’t let the customer see you’re disappointed if they don’t leave a tip.

The customer may want details about the food, or for you to recommend a dish.  Tables should be ready for the next customer so all tablecloths should be replaced regularly.   Write the order, so there can’t be errors.  When the restaurant is busy it is easy to forget or confuse orders.

Read more:
Waitress CV Example
Waitress Salary
Waitress Resignation Letter
Waitress Cover Letter Example

The Interview

Do you prefer to work independently or on a team? interview question
What type of work environment do you prefer? Interview Question
How do you evaluate success? Interview Question

Don’t overdress or wear too much make-up.  Ensure that you arrive in plenty of time for your appointment.  It doesn’t create a good impression if you are late.

The interviewer will ask you about yourself – your hobbies and interests, whether you are a student and when you can work.

The customer’s bill will be automated so there isn’t any need for the Waitress to be particularly good at maths. A clear speaking voice is essential, together with the ability to remain calm, even if there is an irate customer.

Thank the interviewer for seeing you, and ask when a decision will be made.  Confirm that you want the job if you are selected.

Waitress interview questions:
How do you evaluate success? Interview Question
What can you do for this company? Interview Question
Why are you the best person for the job? Interview Question
What are your salary expectations? Interview Question
Describe a difficult work situation project and how you overcame it
Give some examples of teamwork – Interview Question
What motivates you? Interview Question and Answer
What is your greatest weakness? Interview Question
Why do you want this job? Interview Question
What is your greatest strength? Interview Question

View the full list of typical interview questions and answers!

  
What can you contribute to this company?

You are almost certainly going to be asked this question and it’s a good question to think about.

What can you contribute to the company?  Why do you think working there will benefit the company?

This is a personal question to you. Make sure you are sincere and honest about your response.

For your answer you need to focus on your strengths and those strengths you can bring to that company. Remember the knowledge, experience, abilities, and skills you possess. Be very positive and confident in your reply.

Give examples of that you have done in other roles in the past and try to explain how you could use those skills in the future in their company.

Think about some sample answers:
I work very hard with the experience to get things done quickly and efficiently. I can contribute with my organisational skills as well as working in a team. Be honest and think logically about what you view as being a good skill and explain that to your interviewer.

  
This is the easier question to “what are your weaknesses” except people still struggle to answer it because they are not sure what an employer wants to hear.

The answer is anything! They are looking to see what you consider to be your strength and it doesn’t have to be purely work related. They are also looking to see what your level of confidence is and how honest you are.

The interviewer wants to see how you handle this stressful question firstly then secondly how you handle it. Just be honest.

As with any interview and most tasks you will feel comfortable if you have done your research and preparation, not just about the job and company but about yourself. Can you talk carefully and confidently about your skills? This is what you need to practice.

There are many standard questions in an interview, this being one of them but there are no standard answers and no right or wrong answers when it comes to questions like these.

Make an honest list of what you think your strengths are then select a few of them that you can remember. Practice your responses so that they sound natural not like a script and then you will feel better and able to answer the question.

Also remember that some weaknesses could also be seen as strengths such as: I am a workaholic, I work all of the time. You might view this as a weakness but an employer will probably view it as a positive.

Just remember to be prepared for any standard question.

Good Luck.

  
How to Answer "What do people most often criticize about you?" Interview Question

In order to grow and improve in your career, you must be open to criticism as a method of identifying and therefore, eradicating your weaknesses. You should never answer this question by saying you are not criticised because you have no weaknesses.

Everyone has room for improvement and this question can help you show that you are capable of dealing with criticism. You could always try to show ways in which you are attempting to address the problems and weaknesses that have been identified with your character. However, don’t go too extreme and mention weaknesses that could have a seriously detrimental effect on your prospects of getting the job.

Example Answers

An example answer could be to say,

"I have been criticised about occasionally being too outspoken and forceful in putting my ideas to the group. It was always done with the best of intentions but I am aware that I must be mindful about how I put my point across. In order to improve on this, I always take a notepad and pen into meetings. Now I can put my ideas to paper and therefore will not forget them. This enables me to wait for a more appropriate opportunity to press my point."

This answer will show the interviewer that you have given this issue serious consideration. Furthermore, they will be impressed with your efforts to turn a weakness into a strength. 

Another answer can be:

I sometimes talk over people: “People have said I sometimes interrupt people, so I have been really concentrating on making sure to wait until people speak before countering their argument. I only do it because I’m keen to solve the problem, and don’t often need all the back story that some customers feel the need to give.”

By doing your homework on this company you should be able to get a good picture of the type of employee they are looking for. Make sure you tailor your answer to suit this model. Although this is a negative question, if you can give a positive and confident answer it will be reflected in your projection to the interviewer.

  
How do you evaluate success?

Evaluation is a word that can be used to describe a short term, fixed value or worth, or it could mean a mid to long term appraisal charting cumulative worth or value. Therefore you should answer this question referencing both forms of evaluation. Of course success can be gauged in a similar fashion and this should be projected in your response to the question.

This question will also give the interviewer an impression of how you would define success. Careful consideration should therefore be given to this question, if you have done a good amount of research on the company you should be able to tailor your answer to suit. Most company’s today will have some sort of mission statement or corporate aim. For example, BAE systems uses the slogan "Innovating for a safer world". Therefore, within your answer you should make some sort of reference to safety and innovation is often a process that takes time from development to application. Therefore, for this example, you should tailor your answer to long term evaluation.

Example Answers

"I would evaluate success by analysing a process from its initial conception, right up to the final development and eventual safe application. If all criteria have been met along the way, I would consider the project to be a success."

“As a manager I evaluate success by having a happy, productive team, who are all achieving their goals, and are happy in their jobs. That to me is success.”

Panasonic has the slogan "Sense and simplicity". Although this company will inevitably have long term goals and will evaluate its success accordingly, the slogan gives you a brief insight into the ethos of the company. This slogan is meant to be short and snappy so I would revise my answer to the question to reflect this. For example, "I would evaluate success with an in depth analysis of results set against clearly defined aims." This answer, although implying there could be long term trends to follow, shows a preference for taking short term snap-shots to gain results.

  
ICT Technician Interview Questions

If you are going to have an interview for an ICT Technician job then you must be careful about it and check that you are aware of followings:

Always check cable connections thoroughly.

If monitor is on, but black, check brightness/contrast.

Check IP settings on network interfaces.

Don’t be afraid to ask anything else about the setup that may help you, or for a replacement component.

Event logs can be useful!

– A printer is broke – what steps would you take to try and fix it?
– What is DHCP?
– What is DNS?
– How to add a network printer?
– How to add a PC to the domain?
– How do you see the full ip configuration details for all network adapters of the PC you are using?
– How to get a program or document to open up automatically when the computer is turned on?
– What is the difference between a router, switch and hub?

Some of the tests:

– Map a Network Drive
– Open an Excel File
– Solve the error

The interview will be technical most times however you may be asked typical interview questions too such as:You can view all other interview questions and answers here.
Tell me about yourself
Why should we hire you?
Why do you want this job?
What is your greatest strength?
What is your greatest weakness?
What are your salary expectations?
What motivates you?
Give some examples of teamwork
Describe a difficult work situation project and how you overcame it
If you ever had an ICT Technician interview then why not let us know about it?

  
Interview Hints and Questions for Social Workers

There are a huge variety of tasks which are undertaken by Social Workers.  They are needed to assist individuals and families for a wide number of reasons and in many different situations.  There are Social Workers who specialise in specific areas; perhaps the elderly, disabled or children’s services.

A Social Worker needs to have educational qualifications including a degree in social work.  Those people who have a degree in a different subject will probably be able to take a two-year post-graduate course in social work.  It is also necessary to have a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) background check. 

There is a considerable amount of paperwork involved within the working life of a Social Worker.  There are reports which need to be written after every appointment with each client, and it may be necessary to attend court hearings.  When people want to adopt a baby or child, they will have a Social Worker to support them until the adoption is complete.  Social Workers are involved with lots of clients at any one time, so they must keep impeccable records of every meeting.

A Social Worker’s life is never dull.  They must act on their own initiative, whilst still being part of a team.  They need to emphasise with clients and understand their position, rather than being judgemental.  Good computer skills are also required.

Read more:

Social Worker salary

Social Worker CV Example

Social Worker cover letter example

Interviews

This is a career, not just a job, and prospective employers will choose to interview you after reading your CV.  There is a shortage of good Social Workers, and provided you are dressed appropriately and conduct yourself reasonably at an interview you stand an excellent chance of succeeding. 

It is important to understand the breakdown of the clients, and previously you will have decided whether you prefer Adult or Children Social Services.  There are excellent opportunities to advance to Senior Social Worker after a few years’ experience.

Ensure that you have answers to all questions, and in fact it may be beneficial to make a note of questions to refer to during the interview.  The interviewer will appreciate that you have given some thought regarding what you want to ask at the interview, and will be able to answer all questions. 

It is always helpful to the interviewer if you indicate whether you would like to accept the position if it were to be offered to you and this should be mentioned at the end of the interview.

Social Worker interview questions:

How do you evaluate success? Interview Question
What can you do for this company? Interview Question
Why are you the best person for the job? Interview Question
What are your salary expectations? Interview Question
Describe a difficult work situation project and how you overcame it
Give some examples of teamwork – Interview Question
What motivates you? Interview Question and Answer
What is your greatest weakness? Interview Question
Why do you want this job? Interview Question
What is your greatest strength? Interview Question

View the full list of typical interview questions and answers!

  
The first questions you will be asked in an interview for a graphic designer will be in relation to your qualifications and your experience. It will be a good idea, if not already requested, to take your portfolio with you to the interview. This should effectively highlight your proudest achievements so far and should aim to impress the interviewer, who will be casting a critical eye over your previous projects.

You will also be asked about your skills and methods of tackling a project. For example, if not obvious from your qualifications or portfolio, you will be asked about what range of software you are comfortable and effective using. This company may only have limited options with regards to often expensive design software and it therefore follows that the company will show preference to individuals that are already comfortable with the existing software.

Here are some possible questions you may expect to get at an interview:

Question: Which graphic design software are you most comfortable with? How could it be improved?

With some research into the company, and possibly from the job advertisement, you should be able to determine which software this company uses. As long as you are competent using it, you should answer with this software. The second part of this question is an attempt to gauge how in depth your familiarity is with your most preferred option. If you use it often enough it is inevitable that you will uncover flaws or personal touches you would change.

Question: If you were to re-design the company logo, how long would this take you and how would you approach the task?

This question is mainly trying to gauge your methods and approach work. You could start by being complimentary of the current logo. There is always the possibility that the interviewer was the one that designed it. You should give a realistic time scale of how long you believe this task will take. The company will have a set out framework denoting how long certain tasks typically take. By making the time scale too long or too short, you are indicating to the interviewer that you don’t know what you are talking about. Approaching the task would involve explaining how many designs you would create, the selection process, developing the chosen design and so on. 

More questions:
Are you available to learn more about how to maintain website?Name two file types which support transparent backgrounds?How would you set up a Twitter feed on a website?How would you send a large file?How would you apply a drop shadow to text in Adobe InDesign without using the drop shadow effect?What is your prior experience?Describe your process for creating a portfolio pieceYou wouldn’t mind if I copied your designs, artwork, inspirations would you?What is your favorite style?What did you use to create this project?What do you consider to be the current trends in the area of graphic design?Can you work with Adobe Photoshop?Why do you want to become a graphic designer?What characterize a great graphic designer? Why did you apply for a position of graphic designer in our company?