| |
| |
|
Careers & Employment Information |
|
|
|
Dealing With How Would You...? Questions
I'm always preaching about proper preparation prior to interviews. If you research the position and company carefully, you can anticipate likely questions and prepare excellent answers. But something I also tell job seekers is that you can never anticipate every single question. I once had to respond to a "How would you...?" question about exhuming a dead duck. I am not making this up. The position involved community affairs work for a sewer treatment plant. How could I have anticipated such a strange question? It took me totally by surprise. But I got the job. Often with problem-solving questions, the interviewer isn't looking for a "right" or "wrong" answer. He or she is more interested in the thought processes you demonstrate to come up with your answer. The dead-duck question was based on an actual incident, and the person who asked it is the person who had to deal with it. My response showed that I would have handled the situation differently than she had, but it also showed that I knew about problem solving. I didn't panic at the unexpected question; I didn't answer before thinking about it for a few seconds; and I didn't blow it by giving a lame response like, "Gosh, that's a really tough question! I honestly don't know what I would do in that situation." Here are a few tips to help you deal with "How would you...?" problem-solving questions: 1. Ask questions to determine exactly what the interviewer is looking for. (This will also give you a bit more time to think.) 2. Explain how you would gather the information and data necessary to develop a solution to the problem. 3. Tell how you'd use the information you gathered to develop and analyze alternative courses of action. 4. And finally, tell them your solution or recommendation, explaining how you feel it's the best option based on the info you were given. The "How would you...?" type of problem-solving questions are popular in interviews these days. You must not let them scare you. Don't rush your response and don't stress yourself out wondering what answer they're looking for. Remember, the answer itself isn't as important as showing your ability to think logically and demonstrate problem-solving capabilities. Bonnie Lowe is author of the popular Job Interview Success System and free information-packed ezine, "Career-Life Times." Find those and other powerful career-building resources and tips at her website: http://www.best-interview-strategies.com.
MORE RESOURCES:
Employment - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Making Sure You Get a Good Reference You've had 3 interviews with a potential employer and they've asked you for references from your prior job. The problem is that you didn't leave on the best of terms and now you're a bit worried about the kind of reference they'll give. What You Cant Ask a Job Candidate is as Important as What You Can Ask As a human resources professional or business owner, you face many challenges during the hiring process, from sorting through stacks of job applicant résumés to making an attractive offer to the one person you believe best matches the specifications of your open position's job description. The whole procedure is more than time-consuming; it can be stressful as well. Before You Begin, Know What To Expect - How You Can Make a Living Proof Reading From Home Proof reading from home is an excellent way to make money, right? How hard and challenging can it be to do some editing after all?In fact it can be quite challenging to find a good quality proofreader that works from their house. This is due in part to the heavy demands it places on the individual and on their family. You Are Lucky in Your Career! You Are Lucky in Being Satisfied in Your CareerJust for fun let's you and I, reader, consider that you are satisifed with your current career.It's good to find out why. Successful Job Interview Tips Congratulations! You've finally landed that job interview you've been waiting for. Now the real work begins! Remember, resumes don't get jobs; they merely get you in the door. Does Retirement Fit Into Your Busy Schedule? Why do you work?Stop and think about it. Other than the income you derive from the various tasks and responsibilities you perform on the job, are there any other reasons you get up every morning before the birds do, drive your car in rush-hour traffic, get into the office and go to several meetings throughout the day that have yet to change life as we know it, and sit at your desk going through all the things you need to go through that are a part of what's been called, work?You've been doing this for a long time. Ready to Move -- Anywhere! "I have lived in this city all my life. My family is here. How to Conquer Job Hunting Apathy Jack, downsized from his last job, was frozen in a place called Apathy. Had been for months now. Mystery Shopping for Fun and Profit How would you like to get paid to go shopping? That's right! Get paid to shop for clothes, eat in restaurants, watch movies, play golf, travel, and so on.You can have your cake and eat it too! Enjoy the best of both worlds. Integrity At Work - How Do You Show Up? As the business sections of today's papers and magazines read more and more like the police blotter, ''Integrity'' is fast becoming a hot topc of conversation in business boardrooms, around water coolers, and in today's business best-sellers. Integrity is defined as walking the talk when it comes to living one's true values, being authentic. Are You Making These Common Job Interview Mistakes? Going to an interview without a plan of action is like going out on a football field without a game plan. Total disaster! Suppose I were to ask you right now. How To Prepare For A Telephone Interview It is important to prepare thoroughly for your telephone interview.Begin by studying the job description and the candidate profile. Seriously Impress at Your Interview With These 7 Hot Tips So you've managed to secure a job interview for a position that fits you PERFECTLY. Now comes the moment of truth: Are you REALLY ready for the interview? If you've rehearsed what you're going to say and know the perfect answer to every potential question, you're half way there. Job or Career At this present time I have a job. It pays some of my bills, and again I have a job. Becoming A Police Officer Just Became Easier As many law enforcement candidates can vouch for, taking the police entrance exam can be a stressful and highly competitive experience. I decided to research some preparation web sites and purchased several E-books on the topic to get a better understanding of what it takes to become a police officer. So, Your Made A Mistake Of course, mistakes are important. Two facts put those you make in perspective. Changing Careers? How to Get Around the Three Major Mental Roadblocks to Success A part of you can't wait to dive into your new career -- but you're also smart enough to know that you can expect a few bumps along the road to success. By far, the biggest roadblocks exist between your own two ears! Let's take a look at three common mental roadblocks and learn how to overcome them. Dazzle Interviewers With Your Achievements Attention Job Seekers: Tasks and Responsibilities are BoooringHo hum. The interviewer sits there drumming her fingers on the desk trying to look interested while you drone on about your duties and responsibilities at your last position. The Top 10 Ways to Manage Your Career Many people in the last decade have experienced either a layoff or termination in their lives or the lives of somebody they know. While many of these people affected have experienced outplacement-consulting services, some have not and they may be in for a rude awakening - corporations no longer "take care of you". Does Your Resume Have What It Takes To Survive The First Cut? Qualifications" or "Personal Profile") uses bullets and succinct wording to highlight what is likely to most intrigue the employer. Before writing this section, make a list of the 5 to 10 criteria that are most likely to guide the employer's choice - then summarize your qualifications in a way that speaks directly to the employer's interests.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
