Tag: pass job interview

Posted on

Interview Question and Answer Do you have any blind spots?

Do you have any blind spots? Interview Question.

The ‘blindspot’ interveiw question is just another way of asking if you have any weaknesses.

When asked this interview question don’t actual give them a list of weaknesses. Instead, focus on how you identify and develop any areas of development. 

During the interview answer, stay positive and, with confidence, explain that you proactively look for blind spots as you are a lifelong learner. 

Interview Tutorial Video – do you have any blind spots?

Interview Question Do you have any blind spots?

Explanation of the Question:

If you know about blind spots, then they are not blind. By being aware of areas of development you can take actions to help advance your career and industry knowledge. 

Employers use questions like this to see if you will tell them any weaknesses – let employers work out for themselves any weaknesses. When preparing an answer relating to this subject, frame the reply so the focus is on identifying blindspots and professional development. 

Employers will phrase ‘blindspots’ instead of weaknesses when they are asking about sector knowledge levels – IE blindspots are missing knowledge or experience.  

interview prediction grid

Example Interview Answer

“Throughout my professional career, I actively look for areas of development. An example of this was when I started my last job role. I have worked in the sector for a number of years and thought myself highly specialised. In the new role, though, they specialised in a rare niche that I had limited knowledge of. 

By recognising a lack of expertise I immediately took action and enrolled in a course as well as asking a senior practitioner to be my mentor. This allowed me to quickly build up my knowledge base. Whenever I indientify any type of weakness I always take action to gain the required intelligence.” 

Posted on

Interview Question and Answer Can you tell me about your Gap Year?

The job interview question “can you tell me about your gap” is the employer really checking of you took the opportunity during your year off to gain new skills and experience. Often this interview question is asked during graduate job interviews.

Video Tutorial – “Can You Tell About Your Gap Year?”  

Explanation of the Question:

Many career professionals  take a gap year after university, when asked this question the employer is looking if you “bummed” around or did something “interesting” explain how your gap year gave you new skills you can use in your job

Example Interview Answer

“After completing my accountancy degree I took a gap year and travelled and work in Asia, it was a  great personal experience and again a lot of “life lessons” from the experience.  It was also beneficial in my last role, as we had several clients in Asia and was able to use my experience to build up company relationships” 

Make your own “gap year” experience and your skill base relevant to the position you are applying for.

 

Posted on

Wired Job Interview Questions

Why do employers ask weird interview questions?

For competitive high-salary job roles employers want to ensure that the interviewee hasn’t Googled “common interview question answers” Left field interview questions can’t be predicted and these seemingly random interview question have a key purpose.

Weird interview questions are designed to be deliberately testing and are actually relevant to the job role. Questions such as “name 5 usages for a tin opener apart from opening tins” test the creativity of interviewees.

And common weird interview questions such as “how many golf balls can fit inside a school mini bus?” (This question was asked at a Google interview) test your ability to solve problems mathematically.

Before answering any weird job interview question, first ask yourself two key questions – 1. What does the company do or what will be my duties or required skills? 2. What is the aim of this question? What skill will this question uncover or test?

We have record ten previously asked weird job interview questions to help you prepare for the unexpected.

  • How many times a day does a clock’s hands overlap?
  • How would you get an elephant into a refrigerator?
  • How many cows are there in the UK?

  • If you were a Microsoft Office Programme which one would you be?
  • Will this company succeed? Why or why not?
  • On a scale from one to ten, rate me as an interviewer
  • You need to check that your friend, Bob, has your correct phone number but you cannot ask him directly. You must write the question on a card and give it to Eve who will take the card to Bob and return the answer to you. What must you write on the card, besides the question, to ensure Bob can encode the message so that Eve cannot read your phone number?
  • Design an evacuation plan for London
  • Imagine you have a closet full of shirts. It’s very hard to find a shirt. So what can you do to organise your shirts for easy retrieval?
  • If you was an animal what animal would you be?

Posted on

How to Answer the Interview Question Tell me about yourself

How to Answer the Interview Question”Tell me about yourself”

Explanation of the Question:

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 highlight your main strength and/or achievement
  • 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

Example Interview Answer

“I’ve been working in Sales for 8 years. I have a great understanding of selling insurance to the public and businesses.

My innovative sale techniques have increased profits by 25% year on year for the past 3 years.

I am now ready for a new challenge and with your company having a great reputation, I believe this is the opportunity I have been waiting to apply for”

Posted on

Are you one of these 10 people who will never pass a job interview?

10 People Who Will Never Pass a Job Interview

Employers often feedback that time and time again the same type of person is refused a job offer, even though job hunters now have access to a wide range of interview techniques through Employment E-Books, Interview Articles and Career Coaches.

Don’t make the same mistake as others and come across at the job interview as one of these 10 people who will never secure a job offer:

  • Someone with poor personal appearance – no effort made with their appearance, interviewees have been known to turn up in jeans and t-shirts
  • Showing a lack of interest and enthusiasm – Yawning during interviews and answering questions with “yes” and “no” answers shows a lack of interest – you need to sound passionate and answer all interview questions with examples
  • Being late to the interview – again employers see this as a lack of interest and commitment
  • Discussing money throughout the interview – employers agree that people who over-emphasis on money are more likely to leave the job in the first couple of months leaving the employer with the job of re-recruiting
  • Criticising past employer – this is often seen as passing the blame onto someone else – you need to discuss what you did for self-development: Interview Questions and Answers
  • Lack of confidence, lack of eye contact and showing nervousness – there are several techniques to help you prepare for an interview and to increase your interview confidence; a common mistake many interviewees make is failing to practice their interview questions  
  • Being a ‘Know-it’ all – the opposite to having a lack of confidence is being overconfident which can lead to you coming across as aggressive, employers look at which interviewee will fit in with the team and company environment
  • Asking no questions about the job – employers are looking for someone who is interested in their company and the job sector, this is because someone who is not interested will not work at the same level as someone who wants to make this job sector their career.
  • Unable to sell themselves; poor voice (often to quite or to loud), poor diction, poor grammar on CV and Cover Letter and no evidence-based interview answers: employers look and recruit people who have a career plan, job goals and can prove with evidence that they are the best person for the role. Interviewees need to understand what the employer’s essential criteria are and to discuss these points throughout the interview.
  • Having strong prejudices and opinions; you can often recognise when someone has a strong opinion or prejudice and I would add these strong opinions often come out during a job interview. When your opinions do not match that of the interviewer you will quickly lose rapport and any possibility of a job offer.