Review sample answers to the interview question "Are you a self motivator?

" When you

respond, keep in mind that companies are seeking motivated and enthusiastic
employees.
Absolutely. I am a very active person, and I enjoy my work. I'm always looking for new
and innovative ideas to bring to a project.
I believe I am a self motivator. I give my all to a project, and am always looking ahead to
the next one at hand.
Successfully completing one and moving on to the next is very exciting for me. I am
passionate about my work, and truly enjoy working toward the next big goal.
I have always been self motivated. Coming from my background, not very much was
expected of me after I finished High School. I always wanted more, and put myself
through college and grad School with very little support from my family. In the
workplace, I bring that same drive to managing projects and deadlines.
There are no right or wrong answers to questions like "What are the most difficult decisions to make?" or
"Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it."
These are behavioral interview questions designed to discover how you handled certain situations. The logic
behind these types of questions is that how you behaved in the past is a predictor of what you will do in the
future.
Give concrete examples of difficult situations that actually happened at work. Then discuss what you did to
solve the problem.
Keep your answers positive ("Even though it was difficult when Jane Doe quit without notice, we were able to
rearrange the department workload to cover the position until a replacement was hired.") and be specific.
Itemize what you did and how you did it.
The best way to prepare for questions where you will need to recall events and actions is to refresh your
memory and consider some special situations you have dealt with or projects you have worked on. You can
use them to help frame responses. Prepare stories that illustrate times when you have successfully solved a
difficult situation.

When you're asked what you're passionate about during a job interview it's a good
opportunity to share what is important in your life. It's also an opportunity to show your
dedication and what's important to you.
Your response doesn't need to be work focused, but do be sure that what you share isn't
something that could potential cut in to your working hours.
For example, you don't want to say that you're a mountain climber with the goal of
climbing Mountain Everest or that you're getting ready for the Tour de France or looking
to spend the winter skiing in Aspen.
Sample Answers: What Are You Passionate About?
One of my greatest passions is helping others. When I was younger, I've enjoyed helping
mom with household repairs. As I grew older, that habit grew and I desired to help others
as well. I like helping people find solutions that meet their specific needs.
I'm passionate about painting. I take an evening art class once a week and try to find
time each weekend to paint. Painting is a good way for me to relax and even though I
don't have much talent, I do it enjoy it.
I lost my father to pancreatic cancer and ever since then, I have spent time volunteering
to help raise awareness and funding for cancer research. I volunteer for PanCan, the
advocacy group, and I'm part of their volunteer network. One of the things I'm
passionate is to assist in finding a cure, however I can.
I'm passionate about making a difference. When I'm involved with a project at work I
want to do my best to achieve success. I feel the same way about what I do in my
personal life.
I'm an avid skier and I like to spend weekends and vacations on the ski slopes.

When you're preparing for an interview, remember that not all the questions posed to you during an interview
will directly relate to the job at hand.

Sometimes interviewers will want to gain an understanding of what you are like as a total person. This is
where a question like, "What do you do in your spare time?" or "Tell me about your hobbies" comes in.
Questions like these could stem from a number of concerns your employer might have, from your overall
health and energy level, your mentality, or how you might engage and entertain clients and coworkers.
You probably already know there are certain subjects you should leave out of any interview, so even if your
favorite way to spend time is gambling, partying, or any illegal activity, don't bring it up in the interview.

That said, do make sure that your answers are genuine. For example, if it's been a decade since you had a
gym membership, don't brag about being a "fitness junkie." However, you should focus on constructive
answers, whatever they may be in your case.
It's true that exercise and fitness related hobbies can demonstrate health, energy, vitality and the ability to
manage stress. Older candidates should be especially careful to make some points of this sort if possible.
Sports like golf, tennis and skiing can be useful ways to interact with clients and build relationships. But,
remember to be honest first and foremost. You don't want to brag about being a "golf pro" and then get to
the driving range with your new employer, and have no idea what to do.
In addition, you might also mention any volunteer work or community activities, like coaching your child's
baseball team. Volunteer work shows high character and a concern about someone other than yourself.
Working for community-based organizations is also a great way to source potential clients while pursuing a
common interest.
Professional development activities are another potentially rich area of sharing how you use your spare time.
Maybe you take classes or seminars, read journals or complete online tutorials that enhance skills related to
your job. Maybe you're learning another language in your spare time. In addition, helping to coordinate
conferences or carrying out duties for a professional association are other ways to show that you are
professionally engaged.
You can also share anecdotes from your daily life. Maybe you like to spend your spare time bonding with your
spouse or children; maybe you enjoying going hiking with your dog. Maybe you're a fan of the New York
Times crossword puzzle; maybe you love to read mystery novels. Whatever you choose, make sure it paints
you in a positive light.
Overall, the best approach to this question is to mix in these types of personal items with more professional
or work-related pursuits. This combination will enhance the believability of your response, and when you're
discussing your hobbies, always make sure you speak with enthusiasm - and a smile.

Your response to the question "What are your pet peeves?" will help the interviewer
determine if you would be a good fit with the company culture.
I do not have a pet peeve. If something is bothering me, I step back, analyze "why" and
find a good solution. If you asked my teenage daughter she would tell you my pet peeve
is the volume of her music and the mess in her room.
The interview question "What Do People Most Often Criticize About You?" is asked to find
out how sensitive to you are and how you accept criticism.
This is a question that you should be careful answering. You don't want to imply that you
are criticized on the job, but you also don't want to imply that you're perfect. It makes
sense to mention things that are not specifically related to the job to which you're
applying when you respond.
There's no on-going criticism. I'm open to personal and professional growth and welcome
the opportunity to improve.
One of the things that I am sometimes criticized for is being too much of a perfectionist. I
tend to expect very high standards of work from myself.
I had a supervisor many years ago tell me that I was too critical of other peoples work. I
took that to heart, and made sure from that point forward that my analysis and
suggestions are always supportive and helpful rather than critical.
From the time I was a child, I always had a hard time making presentations, in any group
situation. A few years ago I took several courses in public speaking, and last year I
received an award for a presentation I gave at the companys yearly executive board
meeting.

If humor is appropriate, this is a good time to use it. Example: I have a teenage daughter
- few things I do are okay on her radar screen.
Interviewers will ask different types of questions in an effort to determine if you have
any weaknesses that would interfere with your ability to carry out the job at hand. One
question you might be asked is, "What was the biggest criticism you received from your
boss in your last job?"
A tough interviewer won't let you off the hook easily on this one. If you are in the
unusual situation where your performance reviews have been flawless, then you can
mention that fact and even offer to provide evidence of your stellar reviews. However, in
most cases, you should be ready to share an issue or two that has surfaced over time.
Pick a performance area that is not central to the job you're applying for. If possible,
pick an issue that you have addressed and improved upon.
For example, if in your past job, your supervisor critiqued your public speaking skills,
leading you to take steps to enhance your skills, you might share that story. This
approach would work best if excellent public speaking skills are not crucial in the new
position.
Be careful about supplying clich answers, such as mentioning a weakness that can be
interpreted as a strength. Most interviewers will be turned off by statements like "I'm a
perfectionist and put too much pressure on myself." Employers will be looking for sincere
answers and an indication that you are willing to recognize your weaknesses and to take
steps to improve.
Dear Alison: I'm a college senior interviewing for my first "real" job. Maybe you have
some insight on how you would answer this question that my friend was asked on an
interview yesterday: "What is the worst thing you've done that you've gotten away
with?" If you have any idea how to answer a question like that, I would really appreciate
it.
- Peter
Dear Peter: That's one of those tricky interview questions. You don't want to say that you
never did anything that you have gotten away with, because nobody is perfect. On the
other hand, you definitely don't want your "worst thing" to be something really bad,
illegal, unethical, cheating, nasty, etc.
If it were me, I'd keep it on the light side Perhaps something you got away with, with
your parents or at school (staying out late, parties, being out when you weren't
supposed to and not getting caught, etc). Or, something else that has happened in your
life that you didn't think you'd get away with, but did. A personal anecdote works best,
but, again I'd keep it on the light side.
The thing to remember with the tricky questions is that it's fine to take a moment or two
to frame a response. Then be honest, relatively speaking, so you are answering the
question, but not in a way that would make the interviewer not want to hire you. Keep it
positive as much as you can.
There isn't a right or wrong answer for these types of questions. Rather, the interview
will consider how your respond.
"Tell me about your dream job?" can be a tricky interview question. Even though your
dream job might have nothing to do with the job you're interviewing for, don't mention it
if it's not related. Instead, you should make an effort to connect your answer to the
position you're interviewing for.
In the interview, your potential employer will likely focus on figuring out whether or not
you have the right skills to be successful in the job you are applying for. However, they'll

also be interested in how motivated you are to perform the job, and whether or not you
will be satisfied with the position.
Ideally, your response to the question should reference some elements of the job you're
applying for. For example, if the position is a customer service job, you might say that
your dream job would have a high level of interaction with customers.
In order to prepare your answer, brainstorm what appeals to you in the job at hand. Do
you enjoy solving problems, or mediating conflicts? Do you thrive under pressure? Do
you consider yourself a people person who likes to engage with clients or with the
larger community?
Create a Job Profile
Think of what you want in a job, and create a profile of your ideal job that includes
some of those functions. Your dream job doesnt have to be a specific position, like
Account Executive or Public Relations Director, but can instead include different
responsibilities you would enjoy having as part of your position.
Its important for employers to hire applicants who arent stuck in their career and who
are continually moving forward to gain new expertise. Employers are eager to recruit
candidates who are intent on developing the right skills and acquiring the right
knowledge to excel in their field.
Organizations look for employees who are plugged into the latest trends impacting their
field and eager to keep pace with changes in technology and best practices. They also
recognize that no employee is perfect and look for evidence of self-awareness and a
willingness to address any weaknesses.
Interviewers will ask a variety of questions to get at this information. The most common
tactic will be to ask about your weaknesses and how you might have addressed them.
Some recruiters might approach this issue by asking you about the most prominent
trends impacting your field.
A question like "What is your professional development plan for the next year?" has a
broad enough scope to capture both weaknesses and professional trends.
Not having a plan in place will be a red flag for a prospective employer. The expectation
for anyone hired for a professional position will be that you are prepared to continually
upgrade your expertise. As an aside, that upgrading is valuable for resume building, too.
The first step is to make sure you have a professional development plan at all times,
since you never know when you will need to transition into job search mode. In most
cases, this should include mastering the latest area of technology being tapped by
employees in your sector. So a project manager might be prepared to say "I have been
working on strengthening my business intelligence skills and have taken (or plan to take)
a seminar on advanced Plex system ERP applications."
Try to incorporate some reference to a hot industry trend in your plan if possible. Review
the latest journal articles and conference agendas for your professional associations and
speak to well informed colleagues for ideas. For example, a hospital administrator might
say "I have been reading articles on using electronic health records to generate clinical
quality measures and plan to attend a seminar at the next Hospital Association
conference on the topic."
Finally, if you have been working on an area that could use some improvement you might
mention that strategy as part of your plan. For example, if you are in a field where
presenting to groups is not a core skill but is somewhat valued, you might say "I plan to
work on my presentation skills by taking a workshop on optimizing the use of
presentation tools like PowerPoint. I have always gotten positive feedback about my
presentations but would like to jazz them up a bit."

When an interviewer asks what makes you angry, he or she is trying to determine how
you might react to stressful situations in the workplace, and how you might handle your
personal emotions without letting them affect your performance.
Be prepared for employers to ask for specific examples of situations that made you
angry, particularly in a professional environment. Your answer should contain two
components: first a description of the situation that angered you, and then a reference
to how you processed the event and handled your anger.
Avoid bringing up a situation that involves a supervisor, since employers tend to side
with management and may perceive you as an easily disgruntled employee. Try to
present yourself as someone who, like most people, occasionally gets annoyed by certain
situations, but doesn't lash out in an outburst of anger.
For example, you might say, "When I'm on a tight deadline and working to finish a
project, I get frustrated if I run into roadblocks, like if my Internet won't load or my
partner is slacking off."
While you want to be careful about blaming others, you can mention certain office
behavior that doesn't sit right with you, like if a coworker complains too much or misuses
company resources.
The most important aspect of your response to this question will be the way you describe
how you handle your anger. Answers that emphasize a measured, controlled response
are the most effective. Try to respond in a way that implies that you recognize your
anger, but do not express it in an emotional or dramatic way.
If you're discussing a coworker's unethical or irresponsible behavior, explain how you
may have calmly confronted him or her, and then provided constructive feedback. Maybe,
you offered a suggestion and then walked away before things got heated. Whichever
anecdote you are able to provide, make a point of illustrating how you are a levelheaded, rational employee who doesn't let his or her emotions cloud the workplace.
Prospective managers might be asked this question to determine if they are tough
enough to deal with problem employees. In those situations, you might describe how you
dealt effectively with frustrating underperformers.
Typically, you should state how you communicated directly with subordinates about
problem behaviors or performance, and then set up a plan for improving performance.
The plan should include consequences for continued poor performance, and how you
may have partnered with Human Resources to devise the plan.
When the interviewer asks "When Was The Last Time You Were Angry? What Happened?"
he or she wants to know if you lose control. The real meaning of the word "angry" to an
interviewer is loss of control, and it's important to know how you handle situations when
you're angry.
Anger to me means loss of control. I do not lose control. When I get stressed, I step back,
take a deep breath, thoughtfully think through the situation and then begin to formulate
a plan of action.
I try to look at every situation from an analytical perspective, and not let my emotions
dictate my actions. I have had employees in the past whose professionalism has been
questionable, and who have not met the requirements of the job. In those situations, I
have found that the best policy is to be honest about the issues in question, and perhaps
reassign the person to a more appropriate position.
I dont think anger is an appropriate workplace emotion. I have dealt with situations that
I found frustrating; for example, I had a boss who was very confrontational in her
management style. I felt like I was constantly being criticized for things beyond my
control. I sat down with her and talked about ways that we could improve our
communication. In the long run, after having that conversation, I found that I learned a
lot of things from her that I would probably have missed out on if I had allowed my
frustration to incapacitate me.

Interviewers will often ask why a candidate chose their major to gain insight about their
interests, abilities, and decision making style. Effective answers to this question will
depend on how closely your major relates to your target job.
When the Job Fits Your Major
If, for example, you majored in finance and are looking for a job in banking then it's
relatively easy to respond. You will want to emphasize how the content of your major
appeals to you and the types of skills you have developed while pursuing that degree.
When You Need to Make a Connection
In situations where the connection between your major and your job goals is more
tenuous, you will need to work harder to make a viable case for your interests and skills.
For example, if you majored in sociology and are targeting a management training
program your challenge will be to underscore reasons why sociology was attractive that
would also serve you well as a manager.
You might reference a fascination with how groups function or the dynamics of effective
communication, for example. Think about projects you have completed or specific
courses which you have taken in your major that have the closest connections to the job.
Use them as examples during the interviewer.
What Transferable Skills Do You Have?
In addition, assess your transferable skills, especially ones related to your target job.
Choose skills which you have enjoyed using. Be prepared to discuss how they were
applied to your studies. Common transferable academic skills include writing, research,
presentation, leadership, communication, problem solving and teamwork.
Finally, make sure that you thoroughly research the job in question so that you can
clearly state specific reasons why you have an interest even though your major may
seem unrelated.
Recruiters will be interested in any apparent changes in direction that candidates have
made in their work and education history. If you have gone back to school after a period
of time in the work force, employers may ask about the reasoning behind your decision.
How you respond to this question will depend on whether continuing your education has
a clear relationship to your target job.
How to Respond When School is Related to the Job
If you went back to school to study marketing and you are applying for a job in
marketing, you will simply need to describe how your interest in marketing emerged. You
might also want to explain how your coursework and/or research has prepared you
specifically for the job for which you are applying. For example, if the job requires a lot of
data analysis and you took courses in marketing analytics, you should mention this.
How to Respond When School is Not Related to the Job
It will be more challenging to explain why you went back to school to study something
unrelated (or indirectly related) to the job for which you are applying. If you went back to
school a few years ago and your interests have now changed, you will need to share
briefly the reasoning behind your prior field of study and your change in interest. Follow
up this explanation with a description of the skills you developed in school which are
relevant to the job for which you are applying.
For example, if you were in school for education and are now applying for a marketing
job, you can discuss how school helped you develop your problem solving skills, your
knowledge of the latest technologies, etc. Conclude your answer with an emphasis on

how your current skills and interests fit well with the job for which you are applying. The
most challenging scenario will be explaining a current educational engagement that
seems unrelated to your target job. Again, you can emphasize how the seemingly
unrelated studies have helped you to develop relevant skills. There also may be personal
reasons, which you can share to explain why you are pursuing an unrelated degree.
For example, as a candidate, you might state that you chose to study anthropology for
intellectual stimulation because you are intrigued by different cultures. This interest
could be applicable in a variety of ways for many positions, and you should try to
highlight these when possible.
Many employers are concerned about generating a return on their investment in new
hires, so they look to hire people who think they will make a lasting commitment to the
company. Accordingly, you might be asked, "Why should I take a risk on you since you
are changing careers and have done so before?"
In your answer, you'll need to address any concerns the employer may have about how
long you will remain in the job. This is especially important if your resume indicates that
you've worked a multitude of new positions within a short period of time. The best way
to answer this type of question is to emphasize how well this particular position fits your
interests. Review each element of the job description and note the responsibilities that
are most interesting to you. Think of parallel roles you have had in the past and be ready
to describe how fulfilling any of those activities have been for you.
It's also a good idea to research your new career field thoroughly and present a detailed
explanation about why you are making the change. Speak with contacts working in your
new field for information about the career and quote interesting aspects of the work that
they have shared with you. If possible, shadow contacts, to gain a more in depth view of
their work role. In some cases, you may even be able to intern or volunteer with a
contact for a short time to show prospective employers that you are knowledgeable
about the field and committed to the new position. If you think your employment history
might raise a red flag in regards to your level of commitment to each job you've held, you
should emphasize how your past experience has led you to this field and how it has lent
you a sense of confidence in your decision to take on a new job.
For example, you might mention that in the past, you changed fields because of the
allure of a higher salary, more responsibility or greater status, but didn't pay careful
enough attention to how stimulating the actual work would be. You can mention that you
have now learned that lesson and are ready to commit fully to a new position.
When asking what you would do if you could relive your life, the interviewer is looking
for a flaw in your interview. Always remember, the goal for the first few interviews is to
get the next interview. For the interviewer, it is to weed out as many applicants as
possible. Here's where a personal answer could work.
I lost my mother to Alzheimer's. I wish I'd known more about the disease to help me
through that difficult time.
Really, nothing. I've learned from each experience I've had.
I am actually very satisfied with the career Ive chosen, and how it has progressed. I have
learned important things at every stage, and from the people I have worked with.
I have had people ask me in the past if I would have been happier if I had started out in
my current career instead of beginning in the business world. I am very glad that I have
my experience in business, as I think it gives me unique insight and perspective that I
otherwise wouldnt have. Even though I love what I do now, I wouldnt change how I got
here.
When the interviewer asks "If the people who know you were asked why you should be
hired, what would they say?" he or she wants to know what your perception is of what
others think about your qualifications and abilities.

I'm sure if you asked my friends that question they would say you should hire me
because I have the skills outlined in the job description and I bring 10+ years of
expertise to this position. Words they've used to describe me are: hard working,
professional, trusted and a team player.
My current supervisor would tell you that I am innovative, complete projects on
schedule, am willing to help out where necessary, and am a leader of our team.
My colleagues would say that I am easy to work with, and that I bring fresh, honest
perspective to difficult situations. I am the person that many of them seek out for advice
when they are dealing with a particularly sensitive issue in the office.
When the interviewer asks "Do you prefer to work independently or on a team?" he or
she wants to know if you're a team player or would rather work on your own.
I am equally comfortable working as a member of a team and independently. In
researching the LMN company, your mission statement and the job description, I could
see similarities to my previous position where there were some assignments that
required a great deal of independent work and research and others where the team
effort was most effective. As I said, I'm comfortable with both. In high school, I enjoyed
playing soccer and performing with the marching band. Each required a different kind of
team play, but the overall goal of learning to be a member of a group was invaluable. I
continued to grow as team member while on my sorority's debate team and through my
advanced marketing class where we had numerous team assignments. I'm very
comfortably working on a team, but I can also work independently, as well.
A typical interview question to discover how well you would work with other people is
"Give some examples of teamwork." Employers want to hire people who are team
players, so respond in a way that will show the hiring manager that you're able to work
well with others.
In my last position, I was part of a software implementation team. We all worked
together to plan and manage the implementation schedule, to provide customer training,
and ensure a smooth transition for our customers. Our team always completed our
projects ahead of schedule with very positive reviews from our clients.
I was part of team responsible for evaluating and selecting a new vendor for our office
equipment and supplies. The inter-departmental team reviewed options, compared
pricing and service, chose a vendor, and implemented the transition to the new vendor.
In high school, I enjoyed playing soccer and performing with the marching band. Each
required a different kind of team play, but the overall goal of learning to be a member of
a group was invaluable. I continued to grow as team member while on my sorority's
debate team and through my advanced marketing class where we had numerous team
assignments.
During an interview, your interviewer might ask a question like, "How do you evaluate
success?" A question like this gives your potential employer a sense of your work ethic,
your goals, and your overall personality.
In your answer, you should be cognizant of the type of job you're applying for. Whereas a
large corporation might place all their emphasis on the bottom line, a non-profit would
measure success not in money but in social impact. Do your research before the
interview: browse the company's website, research their presence in the news and
media, and see if you can find any information about their mission statement. Here's how
to research a company.
Of course, you'll also want to include aspects of your own personality in your answers. If
there's an area where your values overlap with the company's, then make sure to
emphasize that in the interview. But, you also want to make sure you give a balanced

answer, illustrating a dynamic focus on improving your own performance, furthering your
company's mission, and making a positive impact overall.
Here are some sample answers:
"I evaluate success in different ways. At work, it is meeting the goals set by my
supervisors and my fellow workers. It is my understanding, from talking to other
employees, that the GGR company is recognized for not only rewarding success, but
giving employees opportunity to grow as well. After work, I enjoy playing softball, so
success on the field is catching the winning pop-up."
"For me, success is about doing my job well. I want to be recognized as someone who
always does their best and tries their hardest to make my goals."
"I evaluate success based on not only my work, but the work of my team. In order for me
to be considered successful, the team needs to achieve both our individual and our team
goals."
"I evaluate success based on outcomes. It's not always the path you take to achieve
success that matters. Rather, it's quantifiable results."
"To me, success is when I am performing well and satisfied with my position, knowing
that my work is adding value to my company but also to my overall life and the lives of
other people."
The question "If you know your boss is 100% wrong about something, how would you handle this?" is asked
to find out how you deal with a difficult situation.

An answer that works well is: "It depends on the situation and the personality of the supervisor." To
elaborate, give examples:
My present supervisor does not like to have his authority questioned. He's fairly new on the job and almost all
of the people he supervises have been on the job longer than he has. He's never bothered to learn the
procedures, how things are done or how the computer system works. But if any of us tell him that how he
wants something done won't work, he gets extremely angry. So, I never tell him he's wrong. Never. Whatever
he tells me to do, I smile and say "okay." Then if I know a way to get it done that will work, I do it that way,
give him the results he wants and never tell him I didn't do it the way he told me to. He got the results and is
happy. I saved myself the stress of being yelled at and gave him what he wanted, so I'm happy.
My prior supervisor was more easy-going and if I told her "You know, I think it might work better if I do what
you asked in such and such a way," she would say "Okay, try it."
If I were a new hire on a job, I would probably not question a supervisor because I might think I didn't know
enough. Except on the new job I'm going to. The director has admitted that she's new on the job and there
are a lot of things that a secretary does that she doesn't know how to do, so she will be depending on me to
know how to keep the office running.

There are no right or wrong answers to questions like "What are the most difficult
decisions to make?" or "Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you
overcame it."These are behavioral interview questions designed to discover how you
handled certain situations. The logic behind these types of questions is that how you
behaved in the past is a predictor of what you will do in the future.
Give concrete examples of difficult situations that actually happened at work. Then
discuss what you did to solve the problem. Keep your answers positive ("Even though it
was difficult when Jane Doe quit without notice, we were able to rearrange the
department workload to cover the position until a replacement was hired.") and be
specific. Itemize what you did and how you did it.
The best way to prepare for questions where you will need to recall events and actions is
to refresh your memory and consider some special situations you have dealt with or
projects you have worked on. You can use them to help frame responses. Prepare stories
that illustrate times when you have successfully solved a difficult situation.
A typical interview question to discover how you manage your work is "Describe a time
when your workload was heavy and how you handled it."
While at the HKL plant, we were faced with a sudden order increase for the j-ball
bearing. It was for a new customer. I immediately sat down with the production

supervisor, our materials/supply manager, and the union steward. We were able to lay
out a workable plan that maximized hourly costs, guaranteed materials were available
and, with only a slight adjustment, meet the production deadline. While it was
challenging and involved long hours, the pay-off was a signed contract with a new
customer.
When I was working on a software implementation team at ABC Company, we took over
another company and had to transition many clients to a new product in a short amount
of time. It took a lot of planning, time, hard work, and effort, but we were able to
complete the project in a timely manner.

Job interviewing never seems to get any easier - even when you have gone on more
interviews than you can count. You are meeting new people, selling yourself and your
skills, and often getting the third degree about what you know or don't know.
Here are job interview tips to help prepare you to interview effectively. Proper
preparation which help alleviate some of the stress involved in job interviews and the
more you prepare, the more comfortable you will be interviewing.
Job Interview Tips
Practice
Practice answering interview questions and practice your responses to the typical job
interview questions and answers most employers ask. Think of actual examples you can
use to describe your skills. Providing evidence of your successes is a great way to
promote your candidacy. Also have a list of your own questions to ask the
employer ready.
Research
Prepare a response so you are ready for the question What do you know about this
company? Know the interviewer's name and use it during the job interview. If you're not
sure of the name, call and ask prior to the interview. Try to relate what you know about
the company when answering questions.
Get Ready
Make sure your interview attire is neat, tidy and appropriate for the type of firm you are
interviewing with. Bring a nice portfolio with copies of your resume. Include a pen and
paper for note taking.
Be On Time
Be on time for the interview. On time means five to ten minutes early. If need be, take
some time to drive to the interview location ahead of time so you know exactly where
you are going and how long it will take to get there. Here's more on preparing for an
interview.
Stay Calm
During the job interview try to relax and stay as calm possible. Take a moment to
regroup. Maintain eye contact with the interviewer. Listen to the entire question before
you answer and pay attention - you will be embarrassed if you forget the question!
Show What You Know
Try to relate what you know about the company when answering questions. When

discussing your career accomplishments match them to what the company is looking for.
Here's how to make a match between your expertise and the company's requirements.
Follow Up
Always follow-up with a thank you note reiterating your interest in the position. If you
interview with multiple people send each one a personal thank you note. Send your
thank you note (email is fine) within 24 hours of your interview.
Avoid Common Interview Mistakes
What shouldn't you do when interviewing? Here are the most common job interview
mistakes, blunders, and errors a candidate for employment can make. Take the time to
review these mistakes before your interview, so you don't have to stress out about
blunders after it.
More Job Interview Tips
Tips for phone interviews, second interviews, lunch and dinner interviews, behavioral
interviews, interviewing in public, and more advice for interview success.
Phone Interview Etiquette
Phone interview etiquette is just as important as in-person job interview etiquette when
it comes to getting hired. That's because, regardless of how you interview, a successful
interview will get you to the next stage of the hiring process.