ace the interview Archives - Job Interview Coaching

August 1, 2016November 17, 2020

Sample Interview Questions and Answers

Curveball Interview Questions and Answers

The key preparation for a job interview is to create a list of sample curveball interview questions. From this list, you can create strong job interview answers by tailoring your experience, skills and qualities to that of the job specification.

Your sample interview answers need to do three things; one – inform the interviewer that you have the required skills, two – show enthusiasm and passion, three – highlight a unique selling point.

This is even more important when you are asked curveball interview questions, these are job interview questions that sound random, but in actual fact have a hidden meaning.

Continue reading “Sample Interview Questions and Answers”

July 28, 2016November 2, 2020

10 Job Interview Questions and Answers for PA (Personal Assistant)

10 Job Interview Questions and Answers for a Personal Assistant

A personal assistant (PA), sometimes referred to as an ‘executive secretary’ will work closely with senior management team members providing administrative support.

The personal assistant is responsible for the support of a senior manager, supporting them with their time management, dairy management, and internal and external communication.

Employers are looking to hire a personal assistant who is deemed to be trustworthy, well organised, a strong administrator and someone who is able to take on extra responsibility in the absence of the managerial team.

It is these key skills and duties, as well as the personal assistant’s work ethic that needs to shine through during the job interview.

The key to passing job interviews in preparation and practice, this sounds obvious but is often overlooked, with the average interviewee spending around only 60 minutes preparing for their job interview.

This article will help you to prepare and to pass your next job interview in 3 separate ways.

1. You will learn over 10 common asked interview questions for a Personal Assistant position.

2. You will be given an explanation of the type of answer the interviewer is looking for ( a guide to what the employer wants you to discuss )

3. You will be given an example job interview answer for each individual interview question, allowing you to tweak this answer, making it relevant to your own experiences.

Job Interview Questions and Answers for a PA (Personal Assistant)

Job Interview Question 1:

“Tell me about yourself?”

One of the most common asked questions in interviews normally asked at the beginning of an interview, this question gives you the opportunity to deliver a short statement about your experiences and skills relevant to the job position you are applying for.

Start with a “selling” line that will cover your duration as a PA as a whole
Discuss 3 key points/experiences that will make you stand out
Keep each point brief as you can explain each point again in more detail throughout the interview
You want to interest the interviewer and get them to want to know more about you
End this answer with a reason why you’re looking for a new job

Potential Interview Answer

“I have over 15 years of experience as a personal assistant. During this time I have learned 3 key skills that I use in all PA roles, increasing efficiency. My key achievement during my 15 years of experience is (add key achievement) I feel I would be an asset for your organisation because I can bring X (add unique selling point) to the organisation.

Job Interview Question 2:

“Why do you want this position?”

Your research will pay off with this question; explain you have always wanted to work for their company and the reason why. Discuss how your goal has always been to work in this organisation as you always wanted to (job criteria) and finally finish by explaining how your previous experience or qualifications will add value to the company.

Potential Interview Answer

“I have worked as a PA for over 15 years in a variety of sectors. For me, my goal has been to work with your organisation, as I believe my vision is in line with your company mission. I know I can excel in any office environment, and some sectors offer a higher salary. But my work goal is very important to me, which is why I am applying for a position with yourself. I know we will collaborate successfully together and for me being able to work with your company where you (add a key company value/goal) will give me job satisfaction.

Job Interview Question 3:

“Do you work well within a team?”

Some people are thrown when they are asked this question when they are applying for a PA position to work alone/under management. Every company works as a team,. To excel in the job interview give an example of when you have worked well within a team with a successful outcome. Explain the current situation (or problem) how the team approached this and the positive outcome)

Potential Interview Answer

“In my previous company, I was involved in a new innovative project. The management team was concerned with a drop in profit over a 6 month period. A new innovative solution was required. At the ideas meeting everyone came up with different ideas but none was picked. This led to tempers being frayed. I then suggested that we wrote each idea of a flip-chart and everyone had to record the pro’s and con’s of each suggestion. This led to clarity and an idea being taken on-board. My manager said to me, that if I hadn’t made that suggestion they will still be there no arguing.

Job Interview Question 4:

“Did you get on well with your last manager?”

A personal assistant has to have the skills to build rapport and communicate strongly with the management team. If a PA and management team don’t get along it will create stress in the overall team. This question is to check if you can fit in well with a team, with their team.

Potential Interview Answer

“Yes, I always get on with everyone. I have found over my career that managers, as all people do, have different personalities, different motivational and stress indicators and work in different ways. My success comes from being able to work in style the manager preferences, rather than disrupting well-placed systems with my own method.”

Job Interview Question 5:

“What are your strengths?”

This is one of the most common questions you will be asked in a Personal Assistant job interview. Give an answer relevant to the skills and qualities relevant to the position you are applying to. The interviewer is trying to find if your strengths match the job. For example, if you are applying for a job where accuracy is an important issue, one of your strengths could be that you have an eye for detail. It may useful to find different words to describe similar attributes and qualities in order to avoid repetition.

Potential Interview Answer

“I have often been told that I have an eye for detail and that I am very accurate and precise. This was very important during my last role where I worked on large business accounts. An example of this was when (give example- state problem, your solution and outcome)”

Job Interview Question 6:

“What are your weaknesses?”

Again, another commonly asked question. A frequent mistake to make when answering this question is to say something negative like “I can sometimes let things get on top of me”. Be positive and sell yourself with every interview question, turn a negative into a positive. For example,

Potential Interview Answer

“In the past, I felt I needed to improve my typing skills because I aspire to be the best I can, I have recently enrolled on a typing course”.

This will show that you can identify your weaknesses but at the same time, you are willing to improve. Most importantly: do not mention a weakness that is any way related to the job you are being interviewed for! This might sound obvious but it is a common mistake!

Job Interview Question 7:

“Do you know anything about this organisation?”

Often one of the first questions you will be asked during the interview, employers want employees who will stay with the company, this question and answer will show the employer that you know the company’s history and feel they will be a good employer to work for.

It also shows the employer that you think ahead and carries out research. Answer this question with:

The length the organisation has been operating for.
How the company started
What services/products the company offers
Where they are going (have they won any new contracts)
All this information is normally found on the internet; on the company home page or about us page.

Potential Interview Answer

“I know a great deal about your organisation, before I applied for the job position I researched the company. I really like how the company started as a partnership company is an environmentally friendly company. I know the companies aspirations are (add aspirations often found in the company mission) and I feel with my experience we can collectively achieve these”

Job Interview Question 8:

“Do you think you have enough experience to work within a senior management team?”

If you’re asked this, then the interviewer does not believe you have enough experience. If you have you need to make this clear, explain about your previous experiences and give detail to the parts that are relevant to this new job role.

If you do not have the experience they need, you need to show the employer that you have the skills, qualities and knowledge that will make you equal to people with experience but not necessary the skills. It is also good to add how quick you can pick up the routine of a new job role.

Potential Interview Answer

“Altogether I have 15 years of experience in this industry with over 9 years working within senior management teams. My skills include exceptional written and oral communication skills, excellent word processing and IT skills, including knowledge of a range of software packages and the ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines. I have always had an eye for detail and an ability to find errors easily, allowing me to be pro-active rather than reactive”

Job Interview Question 9:

“What is your biggest achievement?”

Pick one key achievement, something that you have undertaken that other PAs wouldn’t have. Keep this example work-related and think about your unique selling point. This is the question that when answered correctly will allow you to stand out from other job applicants.

Potential Interview Answer

“I was once asked to give a presentation, at first I thought I wouldn’t be able to deliver it without embarrassing myself. I wrote the presentation and practiced it in front of small groups, until I had the confidence to deliver it to a large group. I was really pleased with the result on the day and I was good feedback from my line manager.”

Job Interview Question 10:

“Do you have any questions for me?”

Good interview questions to ask interviewers at the end of the job interview include questions on the company growth or expansion, questions on personal development and training and questions on company values, staff retention and company achievements.

Conclusion

Many people are afraid of job interviews. The truth is if you prepare for your job interview, by predicting the job interview questions, you can easily prepare your job interview answers. If your job interview answers highlight your unique selling point, are stated in the positive and are said in a confident manner, then you can influence the job interview to increase job offer.

Interview Preparation Resources

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July 28, 2016November 23, 2020

How to Use the Psychology of Attraction in a Job Interview

Attraction isn’t simple physical attraction as confidence, perceived power and how you communicate creates a primal animal magnetism.

An interviewer may find you attractive (which increases the chance of being hired) but attraction can come in the form of wanting to work with an individual, being attracted by the contacts someone will bring to the organisation or being attracted to someone work ethic and personality.

The truth is, if you are seen as attractive in any form, you create desire and desire leads to job offers. Here are 3 ways to use the psychology of attraction to land a job offer

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Find the Interviewer Attractive

We are pre-programmed to find people who find us attractive, attractive

A little flirt or flattery in the job interview can go a long way. We all like to be seen as attractive and when a stranger shows interest in you it feels good. This positive feeling is then associated to you the interviewee.

Play this card cleverly as this technique can go horrible wrong when taken to the extreme.

Attractive Body Language

Your posture, gesture and body language create rapport, likability and attractiveness in the job interview environment.

Open body language, as well as playing with hair, open palms and a tilt of the neck is seen as attractive and says “I’m interested”

Confidence and confident posture is one of the easiest ways to create attraction. We are all attracted to confidence, we respond automatically to authority and we seek confirmation from experts.

Most people are sheep, when we find a Sheppard we will follow their orders, this power doubles the attraction.

Throughout the job interview create a persona of power, become a master, authority and expert.

Emotionally Attractive

When watching films and theater productions we get carried away with the performance because they stir emotions inside of us. BY creating an emotional response with the interviewer they will sense a feeling of attraction to you.

To create an emotional attraction use emotional powered words, make points using stories (as stories create emotional pictures in the minds eye) and encourage the interviewer to speak about successes.

When someone speaks or hears emotional content, this creates a feeling, it is this same positive feeling the becomes associated to you, creating job interview attraction.

July 21, 2016November 23, 2020

3 Key Things You Must Remember About Job Interviews

What You Must Remember About Job Interviews

I work with a lot of clients who fear the job interview.

It is this anxiety that ruins their job interview performance, resulting in another, often less skilled, applicant receiving the job offer. Often it’s not the best suited interviewee who is successful, rather its the person who impresses in the interview that receives the job offer.

In the job interview you need to be on your A-Game. There are 3 things that you must remember about the job interview, 3 things that will help you feel more at ease, increasing your interview confidence.

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It is rare that the interviewer is trained to interview

The first thing to remember about the job interview is that the interviewer is just as nervous as you are.

We become anxious when we are in unfamiliar territory. In most cases the job interviewer hasn’t been trained to interview applicants. Because they don’t want to be seen as weak, they will try to mask their nervousness in the interview itself. But by knowing that they are just as anxious as you are will help you feel more confident.

Due to the lack of interview experience for most interviewers, you need to ensure that they hear and record all your key selling points. Use repetition for this. Throughout the interview give several examples of using your key skill/selling point to make the point clear – if you hire me I will do X for you.

Likability Influences

People who have a likable personality or more likely to be offered the job.

During the job interview you need to build rapport, find common ground and use intrigue and stories to create a likable and remember-able job interview.

It simple isn’t good enough to have 10 years experience, the employer is looking for someone with experience but also someone they believe will fit well within the team and someone with good work ethic.

If you have it, say it

When explaining what you can offer in terms of skills, qualities and experiences you need to state everything in detail.

So many failed interviewees skip over key criteria because they see it as an everyday task. It is these everyday task that the new employer require you to complete.

Remember they don’t know, they have never meet you and they have no idea of what your daily task are.

The employer wants to hire someone who can hit the ground running. Explain all the daily task, and then add on your unique selling point.

Most interviewers use a point system. If you say X, Y and Z you get full points. If you miss one out your points are reduced. The more you say the more they will know what you can bring to the team.

July 4, 2016November 23, 2020

3 Psychological Tactics to Sell Yourself at a Job Interview

Th Psychological Tactics You Need to Sell Yourself in a Job Interview

Marketers, sales professionals and big brands use sales psychology to influence your spending habits.

These same psychological tactics can be employed in the job interview, giving you the upper hand. Here are 3 psychological tactics to sell yourself at a job interview.

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Psychological Sales Tactic #1

Emotional by-in

Many studies have repeatedly highlighted that people by goods, ideas and recruit staff due to how the product will effect the person.

In the job interview you are more likely to be hired by using emotional stories to highlight your skills and experience, rather then just listing your qualities, traits and successes.

When answering “give me an example of….” questions, start by stating the pain of the current situation, explain what steps you took and then highlight the positive and emotional outcome.

Psychological Sales Tactic #2

Offer out your weaknesses

The “what is your weakness?” interview question is asked less and less these days, due to applicants searching on YouTube for the best answer. But when buying any product we are naturally suspicious, just as the interviewer is when you only state positives.

By stating your own flaws (don’t go overboard) you create credibility. Credibility, especially when mixed with likability will lower the interviewers defensive. The employer at this stage is more likely to buy in to you, believing the following interview answers.

Psychological Sales Tactic #3

Create fear

At some stage during the interview if you are using all the rules from influencing the interview, you will know that the employer is impressed, they want you.

Scarcity is a powerful motivator. People on eBay, will purchase more for a product then they originally stated they would due to the thought of losing out.

You can use the same psychology in the job interview, if the interviewer, who by now wants to offer you the position, believes you may take an offered job from a competitive company they will compelled to desire you even more.

At some stage in the interview let in slip how you have been successful in other interviews.

June 30, 2016November 23, 2020

Job Interview Questions for a Procurement Officer

How to Pass a Procurement Officer Job Interview

To prepare for a procurement job interview you first need to predict the job interview questions. To do this simply read the job spec and turn each duty or essential criteria into a job interview question.

As a procurement officer, your average salary will be between £30,000-£45,000. At this level of salary an employer will expect a high level of knowledge to be expressed throughout the job interview.

Being responsible for sourcing and procuring quality equipment, goods or service at competitive prices inline with an organizations strategic strategy, means interviewers will want to hear how you can build relationships, finding new suppliers, negotiation skills and record keeping.

In addition, throughout the job interview, ensure you show an awareness of risk management and ethical issues.

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Job Interview Questions for a Procurement Officer

Interview Question 1 tell me about your experience as a procurement officer and the required skills you need to be successful in this role.

Interview Question 2 how do you deal with a supplier who states that your order will be late?

Interview Question 3 What is your approaching when dealing with a disgruntled customer?

Interview Question 4 how do you review your performance?

Interview Question 5 how do you negotiate successfully with a supplier?

Interview Question 6 are you enthusiastic and a good team player?

Interview Question 7 give an example of taking the initiative

Interview Question 8 what skills do you need to be a procurement officer?

Interview Question 9 how will you make a really impact if you were successful?

Interview Question 10 do you have any questions for me?

June 28, 2016November 23, 2020

5 Things to Do After an Interview that Helps You Seal the Deal

What To Do After an Interview to Seal the Deal

The three step process of searching a job includes:

Drafting a perfect resume
Preparing for the Interview
Post-Interview Follow-Ups

The first two steps are conventional and you prepare according to the job you apply to. Done with the job interview, now what’s next?

Once you have shaken hands and parted ways, you do not just have to sit ideal and wait for the employer to get in touch with you.

Here are five things you should be doing after an interview that help you get the job.

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#1 Write a Thank You Note

Firstly, when in an interview remember to collect business cards from each member that you meet in your process.

The best way to follow up is to write an e-mail within 24 hours of the interview. Your follow-up mail should be drafted in a job letter format starting with acknowledging each one of them for their time and then reiterate why you are the perfect fit for the job.

Use this follow-up email to thank the interviewers for the time they invested in meeting you, express what interests you in the position and anything you feel led to a personal connection during the interview process.

Another quick way to leave an impressive mark in the minds of the interviewers, leave a hand written thank you note followed by a follow-up email in a week’ time.

#2 Judiciously Connect Online

It might be tempting to connect with everyone that you have met with online.

Do so, but make sure that it does not leave an impression of you stalking them. Check their online presence before you reach out sending those requests. For example, someone you met at ABC organization has more than 500 people on his/her LinkedIn account implies that he/she is open to accept requests.

On the other hand, there might be someone with a private account. So hold yourself there, before you send out a request.

To be on the safe side, it is better to follow people or the organization on Twitter. It displays that you have a keen interest in the company. Keep Facebook for friends and family. Connection professionally on Facebook might turn the tables around for you.

#3 Follow-Up Again

It can take a while to get a response from the employer after you have had that interview. The reasons can be many.

If this is the case, you should consider following up again. But make sure that you have something new to offer each time you write a follow-up e-mail.

You can look out for a piece of news or what’s happening in the related industry and share it in a small follow-up note.

#4 Keep Those Notes

It is important that you have a track of job openings you pursue, the resumes sent and the contacts you have made through an application.

Once you are done with an interview, take out time and make notes listing down the people you met, the conversation you had and what remarkable you learned through the process.

Additionally also keep a note of the impressions you made and any concerns or questions you would like to put up to the employer when given a chance.

#5 Make a Call

Communicating electronically has become the norm these days.

The extent is to the level that some people today think that a phone call will intrude their time. So, when you call someone make sure that you are considerate and careful both at the same time.

Recall, if they told you to call or drop an email. If not and you have already tried to get in touch through an e-mail without any response, before calling think about what you are going to say. It is better to practice before you make the call.

Finding a job is not an easy task. If you get an opportunity, make sure you use it to the fullest. Some annoying things candidates do in name of follow-up can harm the chances of you making it to the job. Here is a list of things you must not do definitely to keep your chances high.

Following-Up too much
Changing the salary expectations after the discussion
Acting like you have the job
Skipping the thank you note
Bringing up other job offers

Author Bio

Akansha Arora is a professional writer and blogger who loves to pen down her views on a number of topics that interest a reader. She writes keeping in mind the current scenarios and wishes to keep her readers well informed.

June 27, 2016November 23, 2020

3 Body Language Tricks to Make The Interviewer See You As Confident

Use Body Language Tricks to be Seen as Confident

Confidence in the job interview is everything.

Even if you feel nervous you need to, externally show confidence.

These clever body language tricks will help convince any job interview that you are one hell of a confident interviewee.

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Job Interview Confidence Trick 1

This visualization trick is used by actors.

As you walk into the interview room, the interviewer will look up from his desk and make an opinion about your level of confidence from your posture.

To create a positive posture, imagine that there is a piece of string dangling from the door frame of the interview room. It is long enough to touch the very top of your head. As you walk through the doorway, imagine lifting your head and straitening your back, so your head just reaches the bottom of the string.

This will help you to create a confidence looking posture, influencing the job interview.

Job Interview Confidence Trick 2

Is that Dave? God I’ve not seen you since school

Whenever you meet an old friend who you haven’t seen in ages, you instantly smile, a big bright smile.

A big smile makes the friend feel warm and specially. When in an interview situation, wait until you walk through the doorway and then smile a big bright smile at the interviewer, imagine that the interviewer is an old friend.

This smile will create rapport, likability and you will be seen as positive, approachable and confident.

Job Interview Confidence Trick 3

Talk with your hands

Nervous and shy people keep there hands down their sides, it’s as if they want to make themselves look small, unnoticeable.

Confident people will express themselves and communicate with words and gestures. Don’t only does a person who talks with their hands increase communication they look more confident and relaxed.

June 25, 2016November 23, 2020

Change Your Language Change Your Interview Stress Levels

Understand How Language Change Interview Stress Levels.

Job interviews are really stressful, but are more more stressful by the language the interviewee uses when trying to motivate themselves.

The actual words we use when talking to our-self has a massive impact on your emotional well being. Our internal dialog is created automatically, by taking control of your personal language, you create interview confidence, reducing job interview stress.

Here are 3 simple ways to reduce job interview stress by choosing stress reducing words

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Speaking in the Third Person

Stressed and anxious interviewees use associated language “I have to answer all the interview questions…” Is this is said from a negative perspective, the visual imagery you create from these words increases stress.

Self-distancing helps you to control your thoughts and emotional response. By using disassociated phrases the stress impact lowers “Chris has to answer all the interview questions..” you change your perspective, changing your response and behavior.

To lessen stress, think about the phrasing of yourself talk. Become aware of the “I” you are using, and repeat the same phrase replacing “I” with your name.

Strong and Weak Words

When preparing for the job interview it is easy to fall into the trap of using weak words that didn’t motivate.

Take these 2 examples;

I’m going to try and pass the job interview
I will pass the job interview

Words such as “try” “maybe” “want” don’t create the feeling of commitment. By replacing these weak words with commitment statements you are more likely to achieve your goals.

When feeling committed to a passing a job interview, your stress levels naturally drop as you have a positive focus which creates interview confidence.

Language and Perspective

Interviewees often focus on the negative reasons why they need to pass the job interview.

The way you phrase your reason for attending the job interview will create stress or desire.

Most people phrase their job interview goal in the negative stating the thing they want to get away from “I don’t want to be unemployed…”

What you say to yourself, your reason for the job interview, is represented by visual imagery. This image creates an emotional response, either positive or negative and only positive emotions help you to relax in the job interview, increasing confidence.

To increase job interview confidence, reframe your negatively phrased goal positively “I want to gain a job with a pay rise”

June 16, 2016November 24, 2020

How To Influence The Interviewers Thoughts

Influencing others is an important skill to have especially in a job interview.

Being able to persuade people with words can have a massive impact on the outcome of the job interview.

What you say in the job interview creates a picture in the interviewer’s mind, this internal image feeds the interviewer’s emotional response and it is that emotional response, that gut feeling that has a direct impact on the interview outcome.

Even two sentences with the same meaning can create different responses. The key here is to pick your words carefully.

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The Glass is Half Full or Half Empty

This common saying makes my point clear.

The glass, either half full or half empty, holds the same volume of liquid, but the way you phrase the quantity of water creates a different perspective.

When answering your interview question you need to frame your interview answers in the positive. Imagine you tell the employer that you worked at X organisation, the employer looks disgusted and says “isn’t everyone who works there lazy?” you can easily reframe this response by responding with “yes, that why i want to work for an organisation like yours where you value hard workers like me”

Using Pain to Create Desire

A big mistake most interviewees make in the interview is not creating a painful story.

Because you are selling yourself, you, the interviewee, believe that you have to state everything in the positive. In most situations you do. But when asked to give an example, stay away from the temptation to explain how you did X with success.

Have you ever been to a movie and the whole film was positive?

The storyline simply being the good things that happen to the main character? No, because people like suspense, we want to be taken on a journey, even though we know the film will have a good ending, we still want to hear about heartache, the problems – we like suspense.

For your interview answer to influence, to have a bigger impact tell a story.

Explain the problem that you were face with and the consequences if you fail. Build suspense, even lower your tone.

Create a story of pain, before you, the superhero of the story comes to the rescue and saves the day.

Pick Power Words

‘Tell me about yourself? ‘ This commonly asked question can either persuade or put off the employer.

The words you choose to use to describe yourself will positively or negatively influence the interviewee, even when the meaning of the word is the same.

This is because all words have different levels of emotional intensity

Say these words out loud and notice how they make you feel different even though the meaning of the word is the same;

I’m a good team player or I’m an excellent team player
I try my best or I put my all into everything I do
dedicated or loyal
responsible or follow rules
goal setter or goal achiever
ideas or innovative
enjoy or passionate