Surviving An Interview
What do I say if I was fired from my last job?
First of all, you don't have to say that you were fired unless you are specifically asked if you were fired. If that question does come up, then you answer the question truthfully. "Yes, I was terminated from my last position, here's why." Make the answer very short, sweet and simple. Perhaps you could say something to the effect of, "I was terminated because I made an error, an error that I have significantly learned from. And the termination from my last position actually wound up being a very positive thing for me, because it taught me some very important lessons that I can now bring with me to this new position in your company." So always take a negative and spin it into a positive.
How do I explain gaps in my employment?
Gaps in your employment can actually be a positive thing, if you explain these gaps in your employment by saying that you were taking a sabbatical, if you were volunteering, if you were doing an internship, if you were going back to school. Take that potentially negative perception and put a positive spin on it. Gaps in employment don't have to be a bad thing at all, as long as you can point to something positive that you were doing to improve yourself, your knowledge, and your skill at that time.
What do I say if I didn't like my last supervisor?
You always liked your last supervisor, no matter what. The worst thing that you can possibly say during an interview is that you did not get along with, you didn't like or you had a personality conflict with your last supervisor or anyone you worked with. Employers are looking for people who have great interpersonal skills and that's something that you need to demonstrate during the interview process. So anybody you worked with, including your supervisor, you liked them.
What do I say about my hobbies and what I do in my spare time?
With regards to interview questions, hobbies and spare time activities should only be discussed in an interview if the interviewer brings up questions about your hobbies and spare time, or if you have specific hobbies that relate to skills or expertise that you might need in the particular position you're applying for. For example, if you're applying for a position as a physical therapist and you also happen to be a former Olympic skier, this hobby might be a great thing to include in the interview because those skills directly impact your credibility as an applicant.
How do I handle questions about potential salary?
Salary questions should always be deterred until an offer is on the table. So if a potential employer asks you how much money are you looking to make, what kind of salary are you looking for, the worst question and always a red flag for an applicant is, "What is your bottom line?" or ,"What is the lowest salary you are willing to accept?" If you ever hear that question, that is the major clue to turn down this company and just leave because they are strictly bottom line oriented. And if you're not going to meet their minimum salary requirements, then they are going to hire somebody who will. So you want to make sure that any discussion of salary is talked about when there's an offer on the table because that's the only time you have to really leverage that situation. If you're asked, "How much money are you looking for?" your response should be, "I am very very interested in this position. I'm sure we can come to a meeting of minds. I'm negotiable and flexible on salary. Let's table that discussion until you determine that I am one of the top two candidates."
How do I handle inappropriate or personally invasive questions?
Questions that are inappropriate, illegal, or invasive should simply be addressed clearly and in a straight-forward manner. If someone asks you an inappropriate question about your religion or if you're female and they're asking you whether you are planning to have children, those types of questions are blatantly illegal. It is not at all inappropriate to point that out to the interviewer, to say "I'm sure we both know that that is an inappropriate question that cannot be asked in the interview process. Let me, however, address your concerns about perhaps the idea that I might be going off to have children" or something like that. "Let me address your concerns by pointing to my resume and the specific experience I gained at 'XYZ Corporation'", and so bridge it back to your key messages which are "how am I the most qualified for this position?" And then if you want to report the inappropriate questions to the appropriate authorities after the interview, you're more than welcome to do that.
What questions should I ask the interviewer?
Important questions to ask the interviewer are: Number one, "What specifically are you looking for in your ideal candidate?” After you've answered a few questions and chatted with the interviewer you can come back and say, "After chatting with me for a bit here, do you think that my qualifications meet what you're looking for?” You can either get a yes or a no response to that question. If you get a 'no' or the interviewer hedges, immediately take that opportunity to say: "What is it that you're looking for that I have not yet provided for you?” And then jump on that and point back to your experience, background, specific accomplishments. Always ask about the company's short and long term goals. Where are they looking to go? Where does the company want to be in five or ten years? Then, address how you can help the company get there. Finally, don't forget to ask for the job. That's the most important question and that's why you're there. You want the job, so, ask for it.
