Questions at the interview with the manager. Why do you consider yourself worthy to take this position? What are your advantages over other candidates? "What does the results of work in this position really depend on?"

An interview is called an extremely important event, and not only for a potential employee, but also for the head of the company. The first wants to get a job, the second wants to get a highly qualified employee. How to get an interview for leadership position- further in our article (what to look for and what questions the recruiter will ask you). We will also tell you what answers should be given to the questions posed to you and what should not be done in any case.

First, let's say a few words about the preparation stage on the eve of the interview - what can you do for yourself in advance (while still in your home)?

Preparatory stage before the interview

Of course, before going to an interview, any person strives to be as ready for it as possible. it correct solution, since only in this way can you impress a potential boss, demonstrate to him your best qualities that the firm needs so badly. Therefore, one should start preparing for this event in advance - and not “feverishly” and indistinctly thinking about what to say, already in the employer's office. In fact, this is the most common mistake among job seekers - not being very serious about passing a particular interview.

If the institution conducts interviews for the position of the head, the selection is made according to the strictest criteria. Only the most outstanding of all will be selected possible candidates... Work in any position requires the availability of relevant knowledge and skills. But one who wants to become a leader must have other virtues - just having knowledge is not enough. A potential leader must show his personal qualities, solid work experience and achievements in this area. He should be different (for the better) from the applicant applying for an ordinary position (say, a consultant).

What the recruiter is interested in

When conducting such an interview, the recruiter will try to carefully study the candidate from every available side. The applicant will have to answer a huge number of questions - of the most different spheres... Most of all, in such cases, such qualities of a candidate are studied as:

intellectual level;
qualities inherent in a leader (whether this candidate has them);
innovative thinking (can he come up with some new ideas that will contribute to the development of the company);
the ability to influence others;
views and ideas;
commercial savvy;
strategic vision;
attraction of resources from outside;
effectiveness;
ability to negotiate with a third party;
the ability to attract attention and lead in relationships;
solid work experience.

Questions from the candidate

Often the interview is carried out according to the following scheme: first, a potential boss talks about the position itself, lists responsibilities, likely prospects and career growth. This is followed by clarification of details and details. Only after that, the candidate himself has the right to ask the recruiter his questions at the interview.

Small but important clarification: the applicant not only has the right, he is obliged to ask such questions! If he has nothing to ask his potential boss, then he has no interest in future work and positions. There is no need to prepare a huge list of these questions - you can limit yourself to two or three.

Do not forget that the main objective interviewing - to reveal as many details as possible about each candidate. In other words, it comes about their "probing", testing of abilities and skills. You can take an interest in all other issues of concern to you only when you have already been offered to conclude an employment agreement.

Sometimes, at the very beginning of the interview, the employer asks the candidate to report on his life position, tasks and plans for the future. In other words, what would he like to achieve in his career. These questions need to be answered clearly and comprehensively, so it’s best to prepare for them well in advance — while still at home.

Of course, any job seeker cares about next question: How to successfully pass an interview for a leadership position?

Questions from the candidate

What the manager most often asks about

What questions should someone who wants to get a managerial position answer?

The interview includes not just standard questions for each case (a story about oneself, a company, about its advantages and disadvantages, and so on). It also asks questions that relate directly to future responsibilities. They sound like this:

What leadership qualities do you have?
What professional mistakes have you made in the past? What conclusions have been drawn?
Can you influence employees?

The recruiter also often invites the candidate to come up with a specific case and asks how the applicant will solve the current situation.

Since the main purpose of the interview is to find a leader, they may ask the following question: "What (in your opinion) qualities are inherent in an excellent leader?" You will have to list them.

It is worth not forgetting the following important point: competent management of working personnel presupposes that a manager has the following qualities:

He must give the impression of a confident person in himself and his strengths.
Must be bold.
Have a worldview.
Possess communication skills.
Must be able to self-analyze.
Should create a close-knit team without any problems (which will listen to him without unnecessary objections).
Must be able to provide support to any of his subordinates.

All of the above qualities of an excellent leader stand out when answering a question posed by a manager. Of course, answering the questions of a manager or an employer, there is no need to fall into demagoguery. That is, you should not start long explanations and explanations - this will definitely not lead to anything good for you - the interlocutor will simply get tired of you and consider you a chatterbox (and will try to "get rid" of you as soon as possible under any euphonious pretext).

At the same time, the "dry" circumstances of your experience will also not make the best impression, since competent and beautiful speech is extremely important for a leader - observing the "golden" mean.

If you are talking about your own experience, be sure to explain how you solved the problem, what tasks you did in your time and what you managed to achieve. Here it is necessary to remember this important point: make sure that your story is consistent (phased). In this case, you should not regularly insert the word "I". The manager may think that you are an upstart, selfish, which will not add to your chances of getting the desired position.

Questions and answers: how to give competent answers

So, you are about to have an interview, since you have a desire to find a job in a managerial position. You enter the office and see the manager (or direct employer) who invited you earlier for an interview. Now everything depends solely on you - how you show yourself and build your future career. How to build a competent dialogue? How to answer the manager's questions?

What do you need to pay attention to? For the following features.

The first feature: Listen to the questions of your interlocutor carefully and focused. There is no need to be distracted by anything and think about something extraneous. This is completely unnecessary. Have you listened to the question to the end? Great, now quickly conduct a mental analysis: what answer would the employer like to receive from you? If something is not entirely clear to you (the question asked to you is not completely clear), it is better to apologize and ask to ask it again. This is much better than an indistinct or incorrect answer to the question posed.

Try to provide the manager with evidence that the most important thing for you in your work is the achievement of the set goal and the result!

Candidate qualities

What qualities do you need to have in order to be hired?

What qualities should a potential candidate for a managerial position have? Naturally, any boss prescribes specific criteria for himself, according to which applicants will be selected for a vacant workplace... At the same time, there is a list of those qualities that must be possessed by a candidate passing any interview (regardless of the level of the desired position).

The candidate must:

Do not doubt yourself and your strengths.
Look neat and tidy in appearance.
Possess letters of recommendation - for example, from a previous job from a satisfied employer.
Behave culturally.
In addition, the applicant must be sociable - to be moderately sociable and not squeezed, otherwise he will never become a leader. This quality is extremely important, since a person working in such a position must be able to find mutual language with by different people- including with their own subordinates.

It is worth noting that all of the above qualities are considered standard for any candidate for a managerial position. But there are those that should be inherent directly to the leader himself. He must:

To be able to manage, work with the team entrusted to him.
Be able to work with a team.
Offer your initiatives to achieve the desired result.
To be able to solve several cases at once, and not just one.
Be not only responsible and serious, but also have a good sense of humor.

In other words, he should be able to laugh where appropriate - and focus where serious work is involved.

Summarizing

To summarize, we want to point out the following: be sure to read and learn all of the above criteria before going on an interview for your dream job. What should you do if it seems to you that you do not have all the above qualities at all? Is it really worth giving up and not going to a leadership position? Not at all.

Sometimes we show our best qualities after we start our job responsibilities... Just don't forget all these characteristics and try to match them! You can definitely do it!

In our article, we told you about how to get a managerial position (how to get an interview) - what points to pay attention to so that the employer makes a choice in your favor! We talked about what questions are asked in interviews most often and gave recommendations on how best to answer them. We hope that the information provided has been useful to you!

To paraphrase a well-known aphorism, we can say: who owns the information, he owns the situation at the interview.

Before heading to the office, find out:

with whom you will talk: with the head, the head of the personnel department or his ordinary employee;
interview format (group or individual, question-answer or self-presentation);
dress code and things you need to have with you (documents, gadgets, etc.);
how to get there (it is unacceptable to be late).

It will help to find out whether the company's website or a call to the office.

Make a map of answers to common questions

Job interviews are of the same type and at the same time they are not similar to each other. Many have heard of stressful interviews, where they can suddenly start yelling at the applicant to unsettle him. There are also so-called case interviews: the applicant is placed in some circumstances (for example, a conversation with an unhappy client) and observed how he solves the problem.

It is not always possible to find out what type of interview is preferred in a particular company, so you need to be ready for everything.

To do this, make a map with answers to typical questions and requests (they are asked in 99.9% of cases):

top 5 of your main strengths;
what are you good at;
strategic directions of self-development;
proposals for the work of the company;
your life and work philosophy;
your short and long term goals;
unusual tasks that you had to solve.

You should also prepare in advance a list of topics that you would like to discuss with your HR manager.

Interpret the employer's questions

"A" does not always mean "A", and twice two does not always mean four. Recruiters sometimes ask tricky questions, where behind a simple wording lies a cunning plan - to get the applicant to say more than they should.

A simple question: "What wages would you like to receive? " But the answer helps the interviewer understand your motivation: money, social guarantees, work schedule, etc. If you are asked if you had any conflicts with management and how you resolved them, then most likely the HR manager wants to know if you are inclined to take responsibility or are used to shifting it onto others.

There are many tricky questions. You need to be able to see the "double bottom" (without fanaticism!).

Consider your non-verbal behavior

HR managers are people, not automata. They, like everyone else, pay attention to non-verbal signs: appearance, facial expressions, gait, gestures, etc. An experienced professional can only be turned down because he has misbehaved.

Think ahead of your body language. If you habitually twitch your leg out of excitement, then sit cross-legged. If you bump your fingers on the table, try keeping your hands busy with something like a ballpoint pen.

HR managers are people, not automata. They understand that you are worried. But naturalness in non-verbal communication will increase the credit of trust in you.

Establish taboos on certain topics

“Tell us about yourself,” the interviewer asks. “I was born on April 2, 1980 (according to the Taurus horoscope). In his youth, he played football, was the captain of the city team. Then he graduated from the institute ... "- if the story of the applicant is approximately the same, he will not see the position as his own ears.

There are things that are absolutely uninteresting to the employer and which in no way characterize you as a professional. In the given example, this is the year of birth (you can read it in the resume), the sign of the zodiac and sports achievements.

There are topics that need to be tabooed for yourself:

retelling the summary;
personal life goals(buy a house, have children, etc.);
reputation of the company and its employees;
skills and experience that are not related to future work (I cook well, understand plumbing, and the like);
failures demonstrating incompetence.

Just as you made a plan for what to talk about, write down and memorize the topics to ignore. Also, think about how to correctly answer if you are still asked about it.

Contemplate to calm down

Interviewing is a nerve-racking affair. You can forget your name, not to mention the demonstration of business qualities.

To calm yourself down, take a look around. Inspect the office, equipment, employees. The details will tell you a lot about the company where you are going to work, and their analysis will help to bring the nervous system back to normal.

Looking critically at the firm and future colleagues can heighten self-importance. Remember, the company needs a good employee as much as you need a good job.

Take the initiative

In an interview, as a rule, there comes a moment when the interviewer and the interviewee change places and the applicant has the opportunity to ask questions of interest.

Do not waste time on useless "Will you call me yourself or should I call you back?", "Why is this position open?" etc. Show yourself as a proactive employee. Ask:

Does the company have any urgent problem? How do you think I can help you?
Could you describe how you envision the ideal candidate for this position?
What advice would you give to someone who starts working for your company?

There are also a number of questions that are not recommended to be asked. Which - will tell you by clicking on the button below.

Following these tips will prepare you for your interview and increase your chances of getting a job.

Are there any additions? Write them in the comments.

There are a lot of managerial vacancies today. But there are even more people who want to get this position. How do you prepare to be at the forefront of this job race? Especially if you feel like working as a manager is your path in life?

Labor market in modern world similar to gladiatorial fights. And to get through this fight, you need significant advantages, will and a constant desire to reach the maximum. In this article, we'll go over the basics when preparing for a job interview. What do you need to pay attention to, how to be confident and how to show your competence?

Employers' requirements

But let's start with how employers view candidates? Seeing the situation from their point of view, we can soberly assess ourselves. Correct the direction of your personal growth. What do they require? It is important for employers that the employee is fully and unconditionally dedicated to the needs of their company. In most ads, we find the following requirements:

Ability to build relationships, negotiate.
Prompt decision-making.
Self-dedication in work, responsibility.
Self-organization and ability to organize others.
Scrupulousness.
Self-development skills.
Ability to set goals and develop plans.
Success orientation.
Ability to manage your time.

Everything is correct. A company with a comfortable moral and psychological climate works better where employees are jointly responsible for the result of work, and are not afraid to take initiative. For this, the person who is at the head of all processes must be the undoubted leader. He must develop strategic thinking, have a high level of self-control, and also need to understand his motives and subordinates. After all, if a person has no motive for activity, it is impossible to "force" him to work. Working with people also involves a lot of responsibility.

The manager is responsible for all work performed by subordinates. And, if necessary, he must intervene and help solve the difficulties that have arisen. This means that he needs to know thoroughly the whole process that he controls. You need to schedule time according to the importance of tasks.

Based on the above qualities, we can draw a picture of the ideal manager. Now ask yourself, what is your motivation after all? Are you ready to step by step closer to this ideal, achieve better results, climb the career ladder, and at the same time sacrifice the interests of your personality?

Create a "face". Secrets of the leader's image

We found that someone who has leadership skills and outstanding analytical thinking is more likely to get a job. Your task at the interview with all your appearance and behavior is to demonstrate all these qualities to the interviewer.

Show that you have your own view of the surrounding things, events. Show that you have formed as a person and you have your own image. But don't overdo it. Your behavior should be natural. Otherwise, you will look funny. It takes a little practice to create your image.

Exude confidence. Work in front of the mirror with facial expressions and gestures. If facial expressions or posture betrays stiffness, stiffness, then fortune may turn away from you. Do not fold your hands with a "lock". Also, you should not cross your legs. The best position is to sit up straight with your hands on the table or on your knees. Watch your posture. Make eye contact as you talk. Otherwise, the interlocutor may get the impression that you have a problem with contacts.
Polish your speech. The leader must express himself clearly, concisely and to the point. But at the same time, speech should be free. Don't let your excitement ruin your impression. Remember that communication skills are essential for a leader.
Appearance. You will benefit if you dress personable and tasteful. Think about what kind of shoes you will wear. Pick up accessories. Your view shows internal state... Show that your credo is neatness and neatness. Your hairstyle, arms, cuffs - everything should look perfect. But by no means pretentious.
Openness and optimism. It is important to show the interviewer that you are optimistic about the future: you have personal goals that you strive for. If the interviewer sees that you are enthusiastic and ready to move mountains for the sake of a goal, you can safely count on success. But still, personal goals cannot contradict corporate goals. On the contrary, they need to be brought closer together.
A bold, proactive attitude and a quick mind. You can show these qualities in conversation. To do this, find out everything about the company in advance and tell us what you think about its position in the market. Ask what top priorities the director of the firm sets for you. Find out if the owner plans to expand his business. All these questions will show your competence, maturity, and intelligence at the same time.

Types of interviews and principles of conduct

Since the competition in the labor market is high, education and experience do not play a decisive role in the choice. So get ready for trials and worries. An interview may be arranged to test your knowledge, mental toughness, or other criteria. Everyone knows about the usual biographical interview. But let's talk about some types of interviews that go beyond simple one-on-one conversation. And how to behave on them.

Panel... During this interview, two or three people may talk to you. Each of them evaluates a certain criterion. And then he gives his verdict to the director making the decision.

The principle of behavior. Each interviewer has a different question plan. Don't interrupt him. You will be able to ask the prepared questions at the end of the interview. Don't make excuses. Be honest and kind in your answers.

Stressful interview... It is conducted by one person or several at the same time. Their task is to take the applicant out of the comfort zone. That is, a person is deliberately pissed off: they can shout or, on the contrary, turn away and not listen at all. Try to be calm and natural. The candidate is deliberately pissed off to see how he copes with stress.

The principle of behavior. Be friendly and respond to the questions posed with dignity. If you remain calm and confident in dealing with a clearly inadequate interlocutor, you will successfully pass the selection.

Competency interview... You are asked a series of questions that will be further analyzed. The questions will be about the content of your work. Or simulate a situation from which you have to get out in a certain way. This is how the employer extracts the necessary information about the applicant and assesses the level of his training. The problems of psychological compatibility of employees often fall on the shoulders of the manager. The employer may want to know about your experience in solving such problems.

The principle of behavior. Try to imagine this situation and find at least some solution.

Knowing all the pitfalls that can block your path to achieving the desired position can help you prepare better. Working on yourself, you will certainly achieve your cherished goal. After all, luck accompanies the strongest.

When recruiting, many organizations and businesses interview candidates to get to know them better and understand if they are suitable for a specific position. This method is very difficult for those wishing to get a job, since candidates are assessed not only by their qualifications, skills and experience, but also by their personal qualities. But the interview for a managerial position is even more difficult and serious: it is not so easy to be a manager. How to prepare for such an interview and how to behave in a boss meeting in order to get a job.

How to prepare for an interview

In order to successfully interview for a leadership position, you need to cover all factors. It is necessary not only to study the features of the desired position, but also to take the time to learn about the company as a whole. An interview can drastically change the course of events, so you need to be ready for it. Consider the following list of steps required to have a successful meeting with your boss.

Do your research about the company. Look at the information on the Internet and determine what its mission is. Gather as much information as possible so you can answer questions that may arise. You can also list your questions about the company. This way, the employer will know that you have been preparing for the appointment.
Get a complete understanding of the management position that the company is offering. Get to know the ins and outs of this post and make sure you can focus on those points during your interview. If the company mentioned specific qualities and qualifications in the description, then they are important. Therefore, make sure you include these details on your resume.
Try to prepare ahead of time for any questions you may be asked. You should prepare a list of proposed tasks and consider all possible answers. Remember to focus on important points... On the Internet, you can find a list of frequently asked interview questions. Read them.
Decide what you will wear to your senior management meeting. Choose conservative clothing, ideally a suit. You must be properly dressed and groomed. Make sure your items are clean and ironed and your shoes are polished. Your appearance will be an indicator of how high your standards are. So take the time to get ready all the way to the smallest details... Refrain from bright makeup and strong fragrances.
The day before the interview, check to see if you have everything prepared. Make sure you have everything Required documents v the right amount... It is better to additionally throw all the data onto a USB flash drive or disk.
Get some rest before your interview. Go to bed not too late so as not to look tired and sleepy in the morning. If you find it difficult to wake up early, set a few alarms so you don't oversleep, grab a coffee, and wake up a little.
Try to get to the designated place as early as possible. There is no excuse for being late for an interview. No one will be waiting for you. You should plan your morning time so that you leave the house early and arrive at work on time.
Relax and take a deep breath before heading off to your interview. When talking with an employer, you must be confident in yourself and your behavior. But be sure to learn to be confident without being arrogant.

These simple rules help you understand how to prepare for a managerial interview. The outcome of your business meeting largely depends on what personal qualities you possess. So try to look professional.

How to pass an interview

If you are going to interview for a management position, you must prove yourself with better side and convince the boss that you yourself are capable of being someone's boss. If you've worked as a manager in the past and also interviewed, don't be too confident. It is helpful to review likely questions and learn interview tips. Each boss has his own idea of work and his own requirements. The better prepared you are for a business meeting, the more chances you will have of getting the job. The way you conduct yourself in the interview with the manager will give the first impression of you and show the employer if you are the right fit for him.

A manager interview will consist of questions about your experience, management style, accomplishments, and expectations. The boss will ask various issues to determine how well you will fit into the organization and how effective you will be in the position.

You must answer questions with confidence, and you can joke or tell anecdotes, if appropriate, to show that you are not only a professional in your field, but also just an interesting person.

You can bring specific examples from your previous work experience to show the interviewer how you skillfully handled situations and worked with the team.

When interviewing candidates, most executives focus on two aspects of management experience - deliverables and working with people. Both are equally important. If you cannot manage in a team environment and in stressful situations Your other professional skills won't matter, especially when you are applying for a HR manager position. On the other hand, if you delve into the personal problems of employees, you are unlikely to be able to help the company achieve its goals.

For a successful manager interview, it is also important to prepare for general issues... Your employers will want to know what problems you have faced in the past, what are your career plans, whether you can fit into the corporate culture. As a leader, you must set the tone for your team. If you do not share the values, goals, and culture of the organization, you will not be able to run your business effectively.

Chief Interview Q&A

The decision on hiring is more often made after a personal meeting with the candidate and communication with him. Knowing how to best answer a particular question will help you interview properly. Below are the most popular questions that employers usually ask and the best possible answers.

Question

Describe how you will deal with the employee's problem.

Answer

You need to demonstrate that you can manage all types of people. Anyone can manage a self-motivated, successful employee, but leaders who are marginalized persons are highly regarded for their ability to create great performance for the company.

Take the time to write your thoughts down on paper. Indicate two or three cases in which you encountered an employee problem. Think about how your intervention has led to positive change. For example, your criticism or advice has improved your attitude towards work or increased productivity. It is also important to remember that employers will look for managers with tact, patience and perseverance to deal with chronically lagging employees who are resistant to change. While many employees seek constructive criticism and strive to improve their performance, others do not welcome advice or tolerate boss intervention.

Question

Do you prefer to work independently or in a team?

Answer

Most bosses want to hear that you are doing well on your own, but are still open to teamwork and sharing responsibilities with others. Anyone will prefer one way of working over the other, but highlighting the benefits of both approaches will make you a more dynamic, suitable candidate. There is no right answer to this question, some situations in the workplace may require independence, while others may require the efforts of the entire team.

Examples of the best answers:

“I am equally comfortable working both as a team and independently.”
“I really enjoy the variety of opportunities to work independently on some projects and as a team at other times.”
“I have experience working independently and as a team, and I see value in both approaches.”
“In high school, I loved playing football and performing with the orchestra. Each of the activities required a different kind of teamwork, but the overall learning goal was invaluable. "
"Teamwork is energizing for me, although I too have confidence in my ability to work alone when I need it."
“I am very comfortable working in a team, but I can work on my own.”
“I am comfortable working both alone and in a group. It all depends on the situation. If the task is easy, does not require collective brainstorming, I will be happy to work on my own. But if the task is high priority or too difficult for one person, I welcome teamwork to achieve the goal together. "
"Experience in the international field has enhanced my ability to work both alone and with others."
“I feel comfortable communicating with a client face to face, but I also find that having a team behind me gives me confidence that I will have someone to consult with and who to ask for help if I cannot figure something out on my own.”

Question

How do you deal with stress and pressure?

Answer

The best way to answer this question is to give an example of how you dealt with stress in your previous job. This will give your boss a clear idea of how well you perform in stressful situations. Avoid mentioning the reasons for the tension if they were your fault (you put off work and reached the deadline). You also shouldn't pay too much attention to how you felt in these situations. Emphasize how you dealt with stress, not how it bothered you.

Examples of the best answers:

“Pressure is very important to me. Good pressure, such as a lot of work to do or an impending deadline. It helps me stay motivated and productive. Although there are times when too much pressure can lead to stress. However, I am very competent in balancing multiple projects and meeting deadlines, which makes it difficult for me to get stressed often. "
“I react to situations, not stress. It helps relieve tension. For example, when I am dealing with a dissatisfied customer, I focus on the task at hand. I think my ability to communicate effectively with clients in these moments helps to reduce my stress and also reduces any stress the client may be experiencing. "
“I really work better under pressure, I like working in difficult conditions. In such an environment, I can do many different tasks. "

Question

Tell us about yourself.

Answer

Try to start with some personal interests that are not directly related to your job. Tell us about your hobbies: astronomy, chess, choir singing, golf, skiing, tennis, etc. If you play sports it is worth mentioning it. Telling you that you are an avid reader or love solving crosswords or puzzles will help demonstrate your intellectual approach. Interests such as golf, tennis and gourmet food can be of some value if you have to entertain customers in your new job... Volunteering will demonstrate your serious character.

Want to know what the most common interview questions are? Here full list(with the most good options answer).

Some companies have a non-standard approach to interviews, but most of them ask standard questions (and get standard answers).

Here is a list of the most common interview questions with the best options answer:

1. "Tell us about yourself"

If you are interviewing, you probably already know a lot. You've read your resume and cover letter, and you've looked at the candidate's LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook pages.

The purpose of any interview is to find out if a particular candidate is suitable for the vacancy to be filled, i.e. does he have the skills and personality that will enable him to do the job. Do you need a leader who can put himself in the shoes of the other person? Try to find out if the candidate can become one. Do you want the general public to know about your company? Ask if the candidate can get the message across.

If you are looking for a job, tell us why you were in a particular job. Explain why you left your previous job. Describe how you chose the university. Let us know why you decided to go to graduate school. Do not forget to mention that you traveled in Europe for a year and the experience that you got during that time.

When answering a question, do not limit yourself to listing the facts (you can also read them in the summary). Tell the other person why you did certain things.

2. "What is your main flaw?"

Every candidate knows how to answer this question. You need to choose an abstract weakness and turn it into a virtue.

For example: “Sometimes I am so addicted to work that I lose track of time. When I come to my senses, I see that everyone has already gone home. I know that I need to carefully monitor the time, but I really like what I do, and I just don’t can think of nothing else! "

So your "disadvantage" is that you spend more time on work than everyone else? Hmm.

It would be much better to describe the real flaw you are working on. Tell us about what you are doing to become better. There are no ideal people, and you must prove that you can objectively measure yourself and strive to improve.

3. "What is your main advantage"

I don't know why company representatives ask this question. The answer to it is always contained in the resume.

If you were asked about this, please provide a precise and specific answer. No need to argue for a long time. If you know how to solve problems, be sure to provide examples that are relevant to the job you are interested in. Confirm your words! If you are a leader with high level emotional intelligence, provide examples that prove you can answer questions that have not yet been asked.

4. "How do you see yourself in five years?"

In answering this question, candidates follow one of two possible scenarios. Some begin to describe their ambitions (it seems to them that the interlocutor wants to hear exactly this) and show with all their appearance: "I need this job!" Others are shy (they also think that the interlocutor has such a reaction) and give a self-deprecating answer: "There are so many talented people around ... I just want to get a job and see what success I can achieve."

Both types of responses do not provide any information about the candidate - except, perhaps, their ability to sell themselves.

If you are interviewing, rephrase the question: "If you could start your own company, what would it do?"

This is a universal question because everyone needs an entrepreneurial employee.

The answer to it will tell about the candidate's dreams and hopes, his interests and true passion, preferences in work, people with whom he easily converges ... All that is needed is to listen carefully.

5. "Why should we hire you?"

Since the candidate cannot compare himself with those whom he does not know, he can only describe his love for the cause and a burning desire to be useful. In fact, the company gets candidates to beg to accommodate them. Having asked this question, representatives of many companies lean back in their chairs and cross their arms over their chests. This gesture is like saying: "Come on, I'm listening! Come on, convince me!"

Alas, this is another uninformative question.

But it can be changed: "What do you think we forgot to talk about?" or "If you had the opportunity to re-answer one of the previous questions, what would you say?"

At the end of the interview, few candidates think they have shown what they were capable of. Perhaps the conversation went in an unexpected direction. Maybe the interlocutor has put accents on the resume in his own way, focusing on some skills and forgetting about others. Or maybe at the beginning of the interview, the candidate was too nervous and could not correctly formulate everything that he wanted to talk about.

After all, job interviews are about learning as much about a candidate as possible, why not give them a second chance?

Be sure to keep the conversation going at this stage, don't let the candidate talk to himself. You should not listen in silence, so that later say: "Thank you, we will contact you." Ask clarifying questions. Ask for examples.

If the candidate asked you a counter question, be sure to answer it and try to post new information, which until then remained in the shadows.

6. "How did you hear about the job?"

Job portals, advertisements in newspapers and the Internet, job fairs ... Many people are looking for their first job there, and there is nothing wrong with that.

But if the candidate constantly uses these channels, most likely, he has not yet decided what and how he wants to do it.

He's just looking for a job. Any job.

Therefore, you should not just talk about how you found out about the job. Tell us what a colleague or employer told you about it, that you followed the vacancies of a particular company because you want to work in it.

Companies don't want people who just need jobs. Companies need people who need a company.

7. "Why do you want to get this job?"

Let's go a little deeper into the details. Answering this question, you need to talk not only about what you want to work in this particular company, but also about why the vacancy is ideal for you and what you want to achieve in the short and long term.

If you don't know why the job is right for you, look for another job. Life is too short.

8. "What is your main professional achievement?"

The answer to this question should be directly related to the vacancy. If you say that over the past year and a half you have increased production by 18%, claiming to be the head of the personnel department, the interlocutor will find your answer curious, but completely uninformative.

Better tell us about the problematic employee whom you "saved", or the conflict between departments that you repaid, or about subordinates who have received a promotion in the last six months ...

9. "Tell us about your last conflict with a colleague or client. What happened?"

When people work hard to achieve a common goal, conflict is inevitable. We all make mistakes. Of course, the good is remembered better, but the bad should not be forgotten either. Perfect people don't exist, and that's okay.

However, people who seek to shift their guilt and responsibility onto others are definitely worth avoiding. Employers prefer those who focus not on the problem, but on the solution.

Everyone needs employees who are willing to admit they were wrong, take responsibility for the mistake and, most importantly, learn from the experience.

10. "Describe your ideal job"

When formulating your answer, remember - it must be relevant to the vacancy!

However, you don't have to come up with one. You can learn and develop, no matter what you do. Try to identify what skills you can acquire in the position you are applying for, and then imagine how these skills might be useful to you in the future.

Don't be afraid to admit that one day you may leave in search of another job, or maybe even start your own. own business... Employers no longer expect employees to stay with them forever.

11. "Why do you want to leave the job you have now?

Let's start with the things you don't need to talk about (if you represent an employer, you should be wary):

Don't talk about how you don't like your boss. Don't talk about how you can't get along with your coworkers. Do not throw mud at the company itself.

Focus on the benefits this step will bring you. Tell us what you want to achieve. Tell us what you want to learn. Tell us about how you plan to develop. In doing so, do not forget to mention the benefits for the potential employer.

People who complain about bosses and colleagues are like gossips. If they gossip about someone else, the day will come when they gossip about you too.

12. "What work environment do you find most attractive?"

If you enjoy working alone but are applying for the position of a call center operator, an honest answer may not sound out of place.

Think about the job and the culture of the company in general. (Every company has a culture - artificial or spontaneous.) If flexible work is important to you, but you are not offered it, focus on something else. If you need ongoing management support and your employer encourages self-management, forget about it for a while.

Find ways to align your needs with company policies. If you are unable to do this, chances are you should look for another job.

13. "Tell us about the hardest decision you have made in the past six months."

By asking this question, the employer wants to assess the candidate's problem-solving and argument-seeking skills, as well as the willingness to take risks.

If you don’t have an answer to this question, it’s very bad. Everyone has to accept difficult decisions, regardless of the position. My daughter once worked part-time as a waitress in a nearby restaurant. She constantly made difficult decisions - for example, how to deal with a regular client, whose actions sometimes border on harassment.

A good answer should include the arguments that guided the decision (for example, analyzing large amounts of data to determine the optimal direction of travel).

An excellent answer also describes the relationship with everyone involved in the decision-making process, as well as its consequences.

Of course, the results of the analysis are a great argument, but almost every decision affects people. The best candidates usually consider issues with different sides and make informed decisions.

14. "Describe your management style"

This is a difficult question to answer without resorting to platitudes. Try to give examples. Say, "Let me tell you about the challenges I faced as a leader. I think they will give you a complete picture of my style." Then describe how you solved the problem, motivated the team, overcame the crisis, etc. Explain what you did and why so that the other person understands exactly how you control other people.

Be sure to mention the results you have achieved.

15. "Tell us about a situation in which you disagreed with the majority decision. What did you do?"

The people around us sometimes make decisions with which we disagree. And this is normal, the only important thing is how we show our disagreement. (We all know those who like to stay after meetings to challenge a decision they publicly supported.)

Show your professionalism. Prove that you are able to express your concerns in a constructive manner. If one day you managed to change the general opinion, and this change was successful, good. If there are no such examples, emphasize that you can support the decision, even if it seems to you to be wrong (this is not about unethical or immoral decisions).

16. "How would other people describe you?"

I hate this question. It's a waste of words! True, once I did ask it and received an answer that I really liked.

"People would say I am who I appear to be," the candidate replied. “If I say something, I do it. If I promise to help, I will definitely help. I don’t think everyone likes me, but they can count on me because they know how I work.”

What could be better?

17. "What can we expect from you in the first three months of work?"

Ideally, this question should come from the employer who wants to determine their expectations regarding the new employee.

You need to answer like this:

You are trying to determine how your work will benefit. You're not just pretending to be busy. You do the right thing.
You learn to help all participants in the process - management, colleagues, subordinates, customers, suppliers, implementers ...
You figure out what you do best. You were hired because you have specific skills and those skills need to be applied.
You deliver positive results, work with enthusiasm and feel like you are part of a team.

Use this response plan with details that are specific to your job.

18. "What do you like to do after hours?"

Many companies believe their culture is very important and use information about a candidate's preferences outside of work to determine if they will fit into the team.

When trying to convince the other person that you are perfect, do not admire activities that you really do not like. Focus on activities that allow you to grow - learn new things, achieve higher goals. For example: "My children are still very young, so there is almost no free time, but on the way to and from work I learn Spanish."

19. "How much did you get paid at your previous job?"

it complex issue... Usually it is asked before making a salary offer, and you must answer honestly, but do not miscalculate.

Try the method suggested by Liz Ryan. Say: "Currently I am focusing on vacancies that would allow me to earn about 50 thousand rubles. Your vacancy fits this criterion, right?" (Actually, you probably already know the answer, but why not play along?)

20. "The snail sits at the bottom of a well 9 meters deep. Every day it crawls 2 meters, and during the night it slides down 1 meter. How many days will it take to get out of the well?"

V recent times questions like this are getting more popular (thanks google!). Perhaps your interlocutor does not expect that you will immediately rush to calculate. Most likely, he wants to understand how you think.

Try to solve the problem by commenting on each step. If you make a mistake, do not be afraid to laugh at yourself - perhaps this is a stress test, and the other person wants to see how you react to failure.

21. "Did you want to ask something?"

Don't miss the opportunity! Ask a smart question - not only to highlight your personality, but also to make sure you pick the right company. Remember that interviewing is a two-way process.

Examples of questions:

22. "What results should I achieve during the first three months of work?"

If you haven't been asked this question, ask yourself. What for? Good candidates strive to get started quickly. They don't want to spend weeks and months trying to "get to know organizational structure"They don't see the point in orientation activities and prefer to learn on the go.

They want to be useful now.

23. "What are three qualities that your best employees have?"

Good candidates want to be good employees. They know that every company is different and requires different qualities to be successful.

Maybe all good employees work late. Maybe you value creativity more than being clear about the protocol. Maybe you are striving to conquer new markets, so attracting new customers is more important to you than long-term relationships with old ones. Or maybe you need those who are ready to spend an equal amount of time for a novice buyer and a wholesale regular customer.

Good candidates need to know this. They want to make sure not only that they will fit into the team, but also that they can achieve success.

24. "What does the results of work in this position really depend on?"

By investing in employees, employers expect them to be profitable (otherwise why pay them at all?).

In every job, there are activities that bring more returns than others. You need an HR specialist to fill open vacancies, but in fact, he needs to find the right people thereby minimizing employee turnover rates, reducing training costs for new employees and increasing overall productivity.

You need a locksmith to fix appliances, but in reality, he has to effectively solve customer problems and build relationships with them so that they turn to him over and over again.

Good candidates want to know what qualities will enable them to contribute the most to the common cause, because their personal success depends on the success of the entire company.

25. "List the priorities of the company for this year. How can I contribute if I take this position?"

Each candidate wants to know that his work is important to those around him.

Good candidates want to do meaningful work, serve a higher purpose, and work with people who share their values.

Otherwise, the work becomes meaningless.

Employees who love their work are sure to recommend the employer to their friends and acquaintances. The same goes for leaders - they always bring with them those with whom they previously worked. It took them a long time to prove their competence and build relationships based on trust, so people instinctively follow them.

All this speaks about the quality of the working environment and the atmosphere in the team.

27. "What will you do if? .."

Every company has a problem - technologies become obsolete, new competitors appear on the market, economic trends are constantly changing. Not everyone has economic moats that can protect them.

Even if the candidate sees the employer as a launching pad for a high jump, he still hopes to grow and develop. By accepting the employer's offer, each employee hopes to leave him by on their own, not because the company was ousted from the market.

Let's say you own a ski shop. Another store has opened about a kilometer away. How do you plan to fight the competition? Or, suppose you have a poultry farm. What will you do to keep your feed costs down?

Good candidates don't just want to understand how you think. They want to know what you are going to do in the near future and if there is room for them in your plan.

Jeff Haden inc.com. Translation: Airapetova Olga

Career, Work, Study