So many questions and anxiety arise when on an interview and we are asked “what are three words that describe you?”

When answering this question, you want to respond with the word and follow it up with an example.  Below are three different examples of how you might respond to this question on an interview.

• The first is hard working.  Anyone I work with would say that I do whatever it takes to get the job done efficiently and effectively.  Second is team player because I excel in an environment that is supportive and work together.  Last would be knowledgeable about the recruiting industry.  Through my 11 years of experience, I have a strong background in all phases of recruiting.

• Reliable.  I always meet my deadlines.  Friendly.  I have a positive, upbeat attitude.  And thorough.  I am always trying to get it right the first time.

• First would be expert on the subject of recruiting.   Second would be communicator, because I talk with anyone I come in contact with.  Third would be organized because I always have a schedule planned out.

Think about ways you would describe yourself and write it down.  Then break down the list into one word descriptions of yourself and a short answer on why you would use that word to describe you.

Links for job seekers: JobSearchingStrategies.com, Pittsburgh’s Ultimate Career Connection, Job Search in the US, Job Search in Pittsburgh, Free Tips Newsletter, Need Job Search Help?

By Karen Burns
Posted: September 28, 2009

Of course, almost everyone knows you shouldn’t light up a cigarette at a job interview, or text your closest friend, or eat, or bring your dog, or show up drunk, or challenge the interviewer to arm wrestle (all things people have actually done at job interviews). You’d never dream of doing any of this, right?

But you may be guilty of other less horrible but just as damaging behaviors. While you’re trying to wow hiring managers with your knowledge and enthusiasm, you may forget that they’re watching you as well as listening to you. In fact, hiring managers actively search for annoying mannerisms in job applicants. They assume that if you are a little annoying at an interview, you will be much more so once you’re hired and off your guard.

Unfortunately, lasting impressions are formed within 90 seconds of first meeting. So, consider whether you’re guilty of any of these less than horrendous but still irksome mannerisms, and take steps to eradicate them:

Read the Full Article

This article describes Interview Questions you might be asked.

Source

About Your Qualifications

• Tell me about yourself.
• How do you think a friend or someone who knows you well would describe you?
• What do you think is your greatest weakness?
• Can you summarize the contribution you would make to our organization?
• Please tell me about the greatest professional assignment you’ve ever handled.
• What accomplishment has given you the most satisfaction?
• Tell me about your experiences at school.
• What has been the most rewarding college experience?
• Tell me about your most significant work experience.
• How would those who have worked with you describe you?
• Why are you the best candidate for this position?
• Have you ever supervised anyone?

About Your Ability to Work in the Environment

• Why are you interested in this job?
• What do you know about us?
• In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable?
• What criteria are you using to evaluate the organization for which you hope to work?
• Are you a team player?
• How do you work under pressure?
• How do you handle conflict?
• What major problem have you encountered and how have you dealt with it?
• How competitive are you?
• What do you expect from your supervisor?
• What qualities should a successful manager possess?
• Describe the relationship that should exist between a supervisor and those reporting to him or her.

About Your Career and Personal Choices

• What are your long-range career goals? When and why did you establish these goals and how are you preparing yourself to achieve them?
• What are the most important rewards you expect in your business career?
• What do you do in your spare time?
• What kind of salary are you looking for?

Welcome to the Real World

• For the most recent graduate, here are some tough questions specifically tailored to discover your business potential.
• Why did you choose [school]?
• What led you to major in_______?
• What course have you liked the least? The most?
• I’d be interested to hear about some things you learned in school that could be used on the job.
• Do you think your grades adequately represent your abilities?
• If you could do so, how would you plan your academic study differently? Why?
• We have tried to hire people from your school/your major before, and they never seem to work out. What makes you different?
• Have you ever had difficulties getting along with others?
• What problems do you see in your school? How would you go about correcting them?
• What have you done that shows initiative and willingness to work?

Hard Questions

• Did you ever have a group leader or boss you disliked? Why did you dislike him/her?
• How would someone who dislikes you describe you?
• Talk about a group situation in which there were problems. How did you handle the situation and what was the outcome? What role did you play in the group? How could the group improve its performance?
• Tell me about a time when you experienced a failure and how you reacted to it.
• Tell me about a time when you were under considerable pressure to meet one or more goals.
• Describe a situation where you had to resolve a problem at work and explain how you resolved it.
• Give me an example of how you are a risk taker.
• If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?
• What motivates you?
• Why do you want to work for us and not for our competitor?
• Why should we hire you over everyone else we spoke to today?
• What do you think is the most important/difficult ethical dilemma facing corporations today?
• Give a one sentence positioning statement of yourself.
• How do you go about deciding what to do first when given a project?
• Tell me about an experience you have had in a working environment (school, work, or community).
• Describe a situation where you did not agree with something your boss asked you to do and how you resolved the problem.
• Can you work under pressure?
• What did you like/dislike about your last job?
• What would you like to be doing five years from now?

The Stress Interview

• Would you like to have your boss’s job?
• See this pen I’m holding? Sell it to me.
• Why should I hire an outsider when I could fill the job with someone inside the organization?
• Why were you out of work for so long?
• Describe a situation when your work or an idea was criticized.
• Your application shows you have been with one organization a long time without any appreciable increase in rank or salary. Tell me about this.

For Career Changers

• Why would you be interested in this kind of work?
• How do you expect to get up to speed in all the areas which will be unfamiliar to you?

And, the Most Dreaded Question, "Tell Us about Yourself"

• This is also your greatest opportunity. You are likely to be asked this, so plan to use the open-ended nature of the question to your advantage. It is not necessary to answer autobiographically. You may choose to organize your thoughts around your interest in the job and why you are prepared to do it.

By Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer

Article Source

"Dress professionally."

"Make eye contact."

"Research the company."

"Have a firm handshake."

Any of these pointers sound familiar? They should, because you’ve heard them thousands of times. While the above suggestions are great (and valid), the truth is that this kind of advice can get a bit generic.

We decided to turn the tables and make you — the job seeker — the expert. After all, you’re the ones out there interviewing, so really, it’s not too much of a stretch. We asked you to share what you’ve found to be successful during your interviews.

Check out these interview tips from real job seekers around the country. Have you tried any of them yet?

Ask the important questions
"One thing I always ask at the end of the interview is, ‘Have I said anything that would lead you to believe I’m not the best person for this position?’ This gives me an opportunity to clear up any misunderstandings and it also gives me a chance to redeem myself or explain where I am coming from on something. It also shows that if there’s a problem, I am capable of fixing it." – Brooke Kelley, magazine editor

Read the Full Article

The interview is one of the most important elements in the job search process. When an employer invites you to an interview, he/she is indicating an interest in bringing you on board. The interview gives both of you the opportunity to exchange enough information to determine if you are a good "fit" for each other. Think of an interview as a highly focused professional conversation. You should use the limited amount of time you have to learn about an employer’s needs and discuss the ways you can meet these needs. In many cases, you will interview at least twice before being hired for a position. Once in a brief screening interview and at least once again in a more serious meeting when you may also speak with many of your potential coworkers.

The job interview is a strategic conversation with a purpose. Your goal is to show the employer that you have the skills, background, and ability to do the job and that you can successfully fit into the organization and its culture. The interview is also your opportunity to gather information about the job, the organization, and future career opportunities to figure out if the position and work environment are right for you.

Most employers do not hire people based on merit alone. Personality, confidence, enthusiasm, a positive outlook, and excellent interpersonal and communication skills count heavily in the selection process.

After your cover letter and résumé, the interview is your best opportunity to wow the employer-regardless of your background and experience. To do this, use every possible strategy to develop effective interviewing skills. The best way is to prepare a selective presentation of your background, thoughtful answers to potential interview questions, well-researched questions about the organization, and an effective strategy to market yourself. Also consider your career goals and what the available job offers so that you can discuss both of these topics with employers. Interviewing is a skill that improves and becomes easier with practice. Check with your school career center or your local Employment Service office to see if it offers workshops and individual videotaped mock interviews for practice.

Research

It is to your advantage to carefully research the job and the organization. There are many ways to do this. You can request printed materials from the employer, such as annual reports and job descriptions. This is an entirely appropriate request, so don’t hesitate to make it. Use your library and career center resources. Ask colleagues, friends, and faculty about the organization, and about any personal contacts at the organization they might have. Look at the organization’s home page. Knowing about the job will help you prepare a list of your qualifications so that you can show, point by point, why you are the best candidate.

Practice, practice, practice

Prepare a succinct, clear answer to each of the questions in the interview questions section. Practice answering questions with a friend, or in front of a mirror. Ask your friend to give you constructive criticism on your speaking style, mannerisms, and poise. As you practice, avoid colloquialisms, such as "like" and "you know." Make sure you don’t script all your answers-you’ll sound as though you’re reading cue cards! It’s important to prepare yourself for talking with complete strangers.

Find out the logistics of the interview

The more you know, the more focused your answers will be. Find out when the interview is scheduled, what to expect during it, and how long you will be there. Also find out if you will be talking to just one person, or to several.

Be prompt and professional

Always arrive early. If you don’t know where the organization is located, call for exact directions in advance. Leave some extra time for any traffic, parking, or unpredictable events. If you are running late, call right away and let someone know. The best time to arrive is approximately 5 – 10 minutes early. Give yourself the time to read your résumé one more time, to catch your breath, and to be ready for the interview. Once you’re at the office, treat everyone you encounter with respect. Be pleasant to everyone as soon as you walk in the door.

Dress for success

Wear a professional business suit. This point cannot be emphasized enough. First impressions are extremely important in the interview process. Women should avoid wearing too much jewelry or make up. Men should avoid flashy suits or wearing too much cologne. It is also important that you feel comfortable. While a suit is the standard interview attire in a business environment, if you think it is an informal environment, call before and ask. Regardless, you can never be overdressed if you are wearing a tailored suit.

Be organized

Carry a portfolio notepad or at the very least a manila file folder labeled with the employer’s name. Bring extra résumés and have the names, addresses and phone numbers of references, in case the employer asks. Also, bring a list of questions for the employer. You may refer to your list of questions to be sure you’ve gathered the information you need to make a decision. Do not be preoccupied with taking notes during the interview.

Know yourself

You will make the interview process easier for the employer if you volunteer relevant information about yourself. Think about how you want to present your strengths, experiences, education, work style, skills, and goals. Be prepared to supplement all your answers with examples that support the statements you make. It is also a good idea to review your résumé with a critical eye and identify areas that an employer might see as limitations or want further information. Think about how you can answer difficult questions accurately and positively, while keeping each answer brief.

Be honest

An interview gives the employer a chance to get to know you. While you do want to market yourself to the employer, answer each question with an honest response.

Be positive

Never say anything negative about past experiences, employers, or courses and professors. Always think of something positive about an experience and talk about that. You should also be enthusiastic. If you are genuinely interested in the job, let the interviewer know that.

Show your interest

One of the best ways to show you are interested in a job is to demonstrate that you have researched the organization prior to the interview. You can also show interest by asking questions about the job, the organization, and its services and products. The best way to impress an employer is to ask questions that build upon your interview discussion. This shows you are interested and paying close attention to the interviewer. It is a good idea to prepare a few questions in advance, but an insightful comment based on your conversation can make an even stronger statement. At the end of an interview, it is appropriate for you to ask when you may expect to hear from the employer.

Save discussion of salary for later

Find out as much as you can before the interview about the salary levels for the position you are seeking. Do not bring up the issue of salary during the first interview. If the interviewer asks about your salary expectations, give only a general answer, such as that your expectations seem to be within, or close to their range.

After-interview notes

After the interview, take time to write down the names and titles (check spelling) of all your interviewers, your impressions, remaining questions, and any information that may influence your decision to accept a position with the organization. If you are interviewing regularly, this will help you keep employers and circumstances clearly differentiated.

Always follow up

You should write a thank you note within 48 hours after an interview, even if the interview (or the interviewer) was not productive and/or you are not interested in the position. It is important to say thank you for the time the interviewer spent with you. This letter should be brief. (Refer to the section on writing thank you letters.)