IV. Common Interviewing Mistakes

Four mistakes stand out as the ones most commonly made by candidates interviewing for a position. In order of importance they are:

A. Losing sight of the interview objective. The objective is to get the job offer. This can't be over emphasized. If you lose sight of this objective, be prepared for the unpleasant consequences because the offer will likely go to someone else. Don't let your preliminary judgment of the company affect your interviewing technique and strategy.
B. Being too modest. Candidates, especially for key technical positions, tend to understate their capabilities. This doesn't mean you should overstate your qualifications; it merely means that you should make the most of what you have. Do not forget that knowledge of how to solve a particular problem can be a strong qualification, even though that knowledge may not have been applied directly in your job experience. Don't let the fear of misrepresenting yourself prevent you from relating the full scope of your experience and knowledge. A little modesty is a good thing, but don't overdo it.
C. Asking too many "Me" questions. Remember your objective is to get the job offer. Chances are that most of your questions in this area will be answered either by the personnel department or the interviewers. Don't pursue questions about what the company can do for you during the interview. Emphasize your ability to contribute to the company's goals. There will be a time to ask "me" questions after you get the offer -- not during the interview. If you leave the impression that salary and related perks are your number one goal, be prepared to accept the inevitable consequence of having the offer go elsewhere.
D. Failure to "sell" your abilities throughout the interview sequence. There is no such thing as a token interview. It may be true that some people you interview have no power to hire you, but they certainly have the power to keep you from getting the offer. You should treat every interviewer as the person responsible for your getting the job. Do not treat anyone you meet as unimportant. Do not even allow yourself to think an interviewer to be less important than others. Never depend on someone else to sell your abilities to others. Make the strong and positive pitch yourself.

V. Typical “Tough Questions”.

In your preparation for the interview, you should prepare answers to a number of difficult questions that are almost sure to be asked. Your responsibility is to know what the interviewer is really asking and to respond in an honest; sincere and convincing manner. Some typical tough questions are:

A. "Why don't you begin by telling me about yourself?" You should be aware that this is not an invitation for a long, biographical discourse. It's the interviewer's way of starting the interview and getting organized for the interview process. The question will have been forgotten before you are through with the answer You should confine your answer to three or four well -chosen sentences outlining career highlights. It might be an ideal time to begin the topical interview by asking what the employer needs, or what will be expected of the person who gets the position.
B. "Do you have any questions?" The temptation here is to ask "me" questions, that would be a mistake. You should ask only questions that are job-related prior to the actual offer.

C. "Are you willing to travel?" The proper response should indicate flexibility. There is certainly room for person preference to be expressed on this point. If you do like to travel, you should say so, but indicate that extensive travel is not a primary consideration. If you do not like to travel, you should say so with as much flexibility as possible, perhaps indicating that occasional travel would not preclude your acceptance for the job. If you really are inflexible, do not let the interviewer form the opinion that you are flexible.

D. "Do you object to overtime work?" This question is usually not what it seems. The interviewer is not likely to be asking if you will work late every day. He simply wants to know if you are going to drop everything in the middle of a project because the clock says it's quitting time. The proper response indicates flexibility. A good answer might be: "I have always been flexible when it comes to work beyond office hours, Bill. The fact is that I am project-oriented, not clock-oriented. I will do whatever is necessary to get the job done."

E. "Will you relocate?" If you are not willing to relocate, say so. If there s any flexibility in your stance, you should indicate it. This question does not usually mean that you would be willing to relocate later should the opportunity arise. A job with a required and immediate relocation will be described fully before the interview starts. Do not let the possibility of relocation dampen your enthusiasm for getting the offer. A good answer to this question might be: "I haven't really considered moving out of town, but the right opportunity would cause me to seriously consider the possibility."

F. "Why do you want to work for our company?" this is a wide open question --- perhaps you like what the company does; perhaps you like its location, people, products. This could be an opportunity to pay the company a few compliments and make a friend at the same time. This could also be a question that is really asking whether you intend to stay with the company for a reasonable time.

G. "Why are you considering leaving your current position?" This is the classical query that seeks an indication as to your willingness to stick with a position. If your job history shows that you've moved around quite a bit, you should turn a negative into a positive statement that longevity in a job is one of your goals. You should also compliment your employer and indicate that you are looking for a place to make real contributions. A good answer might be: "Bill, if I've learned anything during my past employment and during my interview so far, it is the importance of finding a long term permanent position. I really enjoy my work with XYZ Company, but I am looking for a position that will allow me to make contributions over the longer term."

H. Salary questions. Some of the most importance questions asked are related to salary. Salary is extremely important, but it's not sole consideration. Other facets, including opportunity, benefits and potential for growth may outweigh starting salary consideration.
       When responding to a salary-related question, you should avoid committing to a specific salary level. A figure too high or too low may end in unsatisfactory results for you.
       The idea is to let the employer make the commitment without committing yourself. The most general question about salary is, "What are looking for in the way of salary?" this is usually a positive indication that the employer s considering making you an offer, however, you want to avoid being pinned down on salary at that point. You might answer, "While salary is an important issue, I am more interested in a company that wants to utilize my skills and that I can really grow with over the long run."
       If the employer is insistent and wants to pin you down, the best technique is to say, "My current salary is $_______. Naturally, I would like to see a reasonable increase." Always remember that the primary objective is to get the job offer!