As a textile professional you may face many interviews.Now a days interview patterns are changing.
Review these
typical interview questions and think about how you would answer them. Read the
questions listed; you will also find some strategy suggestions with it.
1. Tell me
about yourself:
The most often
asked question in interviews. You need to have a short statement prepared in
your mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed. Limit it to
work-related items unless instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have done
and jobs you have held that relate to the position you are interviewing for.
Start with the item farthest back and work up to the present.
2. Why did you
leave your last job?
Stay positive
regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major problem with management
and never speak ill of supervisors, co-workers or the organization. If you do,
you will be the one looking bad. Keep smiling and talk about leaving for a
positive reason such as an opportunity, a chance to do something special or
other forward-looking reasons.
3. What
experience do you have in this field?
Speak about
specifics that relate to the position you are applying for. If you do not have
specific experience, get as close as you can.
4. Do you consider
yourself successful?
You should
always answer yes and briefly explain why. A good explanation is that you have
set goals, and you have met some and are on track to achieve the others.
5. What do
co-workers say about you?
Be prepared
with a quote or two from co-workers. Either a specific statement or a
paraphrase will work. Jill Clark, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I
was the hardest workers she had ever known. It is as powerful as Jill having
said it at the interview herself.
6. What do you
know about this organization?
This question
is one reason to do some research on the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are going. What are the current
issues and who are the major players?
7. What have
you done to improve your knowledge in the last year?
Try to include
improvement activities that relate to the job. A wide variety of activities can
be mentioned as positive self-improvement. Have some good ones handy to
mention.
8. Are you
applying for other jobs?
Be honest but
do not spend a lot of time in this area. Keep the focus on this job and what
you can do for this organization. Anything else is a distraction.
9. Why do you
want to work for this organization?
on the
organization. Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be sensed.
Relate it to your long-term career goals.
10. Do you know
anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the
policy on relatives working for the organization. This can affect your answer
even though they asked about friends not relatives. Be careful to mention a
friend only if they are well thought of.
11. What kind
of salary do you need?
A loaded
question. A nasty little game that you will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like, That's a tough question. Can
you tell me the range for this position? In most cases, the interviewer, taken
off guard, will tell you. If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.
12. Are you a
team player?
You are, of
course, a team player. Be sure to have examples ready. Specifics that show you
often perform for the good of the team rather than for yourself are good
evidence of your team attitude. Do not brag, just say it in a matter-of-fact
tone. This is a key point.
13. How long
would you expect to work for us if hired?
Specifics here
are not good. Something like this should work: I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.
14. Have you
ever had to fire anyone? How did you feel about that?
This is
serious. Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to fire
people. At the same time, you will do it when it is the right thing to do. When
it comes to the organization versus the individual who has created a harmful situation,
you will protect the organization.
Remember firing
is not the same as layoff or reduction in force.
15. What is
your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or
flowery dissertation here. Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done?
Yes. That's the type of answer that works best here. Short and positive,
showing a benefit to the organization.
16. If you had
enough money to retire right now, would you?
Answer yes if
you would. But since you need to work, this is the type of work you prefer. Do
not say yes if you do not mean it.
17. Have you
ever been asked to leave a position?
If you have
not, say no. If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying negative things
about the people or organization involved.
18. Explain how
you would be an asset to this organization
You should be
anxious for this question. It gives you a chance to highlight your best points
as they relate to the position being discussed. Give a little advance thought
to this relationship.
19. Why should
we hire you?
Point out how
your assets meet what the organization needs. Do not mention any other candidates
to make a compare.
20. Tell me
about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one
ready. Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted and was then considered
successful. One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.
21. What
irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap
question. Think real hard but fail to come up with anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get along with folks is great.
22. What is
your greatest strength?
Numerous
answers are good, just stay positive. A few good examples: Your ability to
prioritize, Your problem-solving skills, Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects, Your professional expertise, Your leadership
skills, Your
positive
attitude .
23. Tell me
about your dream job.
Stay away from
a specific job. You cannot win. If you say the job you are contending for is
it, you strain credibility. If you say another job is it, you plant the
suspicion that you will be dissatisfied with this position if hired. The best
is to stay genetic and say something like: A job where I
love the work, like the people, can contribute and can't wait to get to work.
24. Why do you
think you would do well at this job?
Give several
reasons and include skills, experience and interest.
25. What are
you looking for in a job?
See answer # 23
26. What kind
of person would you refuse to work with?
Do not be
trivial. It would take disloyalty to the organization, violence or lawbreaking
to get you to object. Minor objections will label you as a whiner.
27. What is
more important to you: the money or the work?
Money is always
important, but the work is the most important. There is no better answer.
28. What would
your previous supervisor say your strongest point is?
There are
numerous good possibilities: Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership,
Team player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard work, Creativity, Problem
solver
29. Tell me
about a problem you had with a supervisor
Biggest trap of
all. This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss. If you fall for
it and tell about a problem with a former boss, you may well below the
interview right there. Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.
30. What has
disappointed you about a job?
Don't get
trivial or negative. Safe areas are few but can include: Not enough of a
challenge. You were laid off in a reduction Company did not win a contract,
which would
have given you more responsibility.
31. Tell me
about your ability to work under pressure.
You may say
that you thrive under certain types of pressure. Give an example that relates
to the type of position applied for.
32. Do your
skills match this job or another job more closely?
Probably this
one. Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may want another job more than
this one.
33. What
motivates you to do your best on the job?
This is a
personal trait that only you can say, but good examples are: Challenge,
Achievement, Recognition
34. Are you
willing to work overtime? Nights? Weekends?
This is up to
you. Be totally honest.
35. How would
you know you were successful on this job?
Several ways
are good measures: You set high standards for yourself and meet them. Your
outcomes are a success. Your boss tell you that you are successful.
36. Would you
be willing to relocate if required?
You should be
clear on this with your family prior to the interview if you think there is a
chance it may come up. Do not say yes just to get the job if the real answer is
no. This can create a lot of problems later on in your career. Be honest at
this point and save yourself future grief.
37. Are you
willing to put the interests of the organization ahead of your own?
This is a
straight loyalty and dedication question. Do not worry about the deep ethical
and philosophical implications. Just say yes.
38. Describe
your management style.
Try to avoid
labels. Some of the more common labels, like progressive, salesman or consensus,
can have several meanings or descriptions depending on which management expert
you listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you will manage
according to the situation, instead of one size fits all.
39. What have you learned from mistakes on the job?
Here you have
to come up with something or you strain credibility. Make it small, well intentioned
mistake with a positive lesson learned. An example would be working too far ahead
of colleagues on a project and thus throwing coordination off.
40. Do you have
any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer blind spots. Do not reveal any
personal areas of concern here. Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points. Do not hand it to them.
41. If you were
hiring a person for this job, what would you look for?
Be careful to
mention traits that are needed and that you have.
42. Do you
think you are overqualified for this position?
Regardless of
your qualifications, state that you are very well qualified for the position.
43. How do you
propose to compensate for your lack of experience?
First, if you
have experience that the interviewer does not know about, bring that up: Then, point
out (if true) that you are a hard working quick learner.
44. What
qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and
positive. Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of humor, fair, loyal to subordinates
and holder of high standards. All bosses think they have these traits.
45. Tell me
about a time when you helped resolve a dispute between others.
Pick a specific
incident. Concentrate on your problem solving technique and not the dispute you
settled.
46. What
position do you prefer on a team working on a project?
Be honest. If
you are comfortable in different roles, point that out.
47. Describe
your work ethic.
Emphasize
benefits to the organization. Things like, determination to get the job done
and work hard but enjoy your work are good.
48. What has
been your biggest professional disappointment?
Be sure that
you refer to something that was beyond your control. Show acceptance and no negative
feelings.
49. Tell me about the most fun you have had on the
job.
Talk about
having fun by accomplishing something for the organization.
50. Do you have
any questions for me?
Always have
some questions prepared. Questions prepared where you will be an asset to the
organization are good. How soon will I be able to be productive and What type
of projects will I be able to assist on?
Prepared By: Md. Tarikul Islam
01912885383
jonytex073@gmail.com
