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

An interview is called an extremely important event, 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 pass an interview leadership position- later in our article (what to look for, and what questions the recruiter will ask you). We will also tell you about 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, any person before going to an interview strives to be as prepared as possible for him. it the right decision, since only in this way can you impress a potential boss, show him your the best qualities that the firm needs. Therefore, you should start preparing for this event in advance - and not “feverishly” and indistinctly think what to say, already in the employer’s office. In fact, this is the most common mistake among job seekers - not taking this or that interview very seriously.

When an institution conducts interviews for a managerial position, the selection is subject to the most stringent 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 field. It should differ (for the better) from the applicant applying for an ordinary position (for example, a consultant).

What is a recruiter 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 - from the most different areas. Most of all, in such cases, such qualities of the candidate are studied as:

intellectual level;
qualities inherent in a leader (does this applicant have them);
innovative thinking (will he be able to offer any new ideas that will contribute to the development of the company);
the ability to influence others;
views and ideas;
commercial savvy;
strategic vision;
attracting resources from outside;
performance;
ability to negotiate with a third party;
the ability to attract attention and lead in relationships;
solid work experience.

Questions from the candidate

The interview often goes like this: first, a potential boss talks about the position itself, lists responsibilities, likely prospects and career growth. Further refinement of details and details follows. Only after that, the candidate himself has the right to ask the recruiter his questions at the interview.

A 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 about each candidate as possible. In other words, we are talking about their "probing", testing abilities and skills. You can take an interest in all other issues that concern you only when you are already offered to conclude an employment agreement.

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

Of course, any applicant cares next question How to successfully pass an interview for a managerial position?

Questions from the candidate

What is the manager most often asked about?

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

The interview includes not just standard questions for each case (a story about yourself, the company, about your strengths and weaknesses, and so on). It also asks questions related directly to future duties. They sound like this:

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

Another recruiter often offers the candidate to come up with a specific case and ask how the applicant will solve the current situation.

Since the main purpose of the interview is to find a leader, the following question may also be asked: “What (in your opinion) qualities are inherent in a great leader?” You will have to list them.

It is worth remembering the following important point: competent management of working personnel implies that the manager has the following qualities:

He should give the impression of a person who is confident in himself and his abilities.
Must be bold.
Have an outlook.
Possess communication skills.
Must be able to introspect.
Should easily create a cohesive team (who 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 are distinguished when answering a question posed by a manager. Of course, when answering the questions of a manager or employer, there is no need to fall into demagogy at all. That is, you should not start lengthy 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 talker (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 - in compliance with the “golden” mean.

If you talk about your own experience, be sure to explain how you solved the problem that arose, what tasks you dealt with in your time and what you managed to achieve. Here it is necessary to remember such an important point: make sure that your story is consistent (step by step). In this case, you should not regularly insert the word "I". The manager may consider that you are an upstart, an egoist, which will not increase your chances of getting the desired position.

Questions and answers: how to give competent answers

So, you are going to be interviewed because you have a desire to get 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 will show yourself and build your future career. How to build a competent dialogue? How to answer manager's questions?

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

Feature one: listen to your interlocutor's questions carefully and with concentration. No need to be distracted by anything and think about something extraneous. It's completely redundant. Did you listen to the end of the question? Great, now quickly conduct a mental analysis: what answer would you like the employer 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 a vague 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 your goal and the result!

Candidate Qualities

What qualities do you need to have to be hired?

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

The candidate must:

Don't doubt yourself and your abilities.
Look neat and tidy on the outside.
Possess letters of recommendation - for example, from a previous job from a satisfied employer.
Behave culturally.
In addition, the applicant must be distinguished by sociability - to be moderately sociable and not clamped, 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 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 leadership position. But there are those that should be inherent directly to the leader himself. He must:

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

In other words, he must be able to laugh where it is appropriate - and concentrate where it comes to serious work.

Summarizing

Summing up, we want to note the following: be sure to read and learn all of the above criteria before going to an interview for the job of your dreams. 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 official duties. Just do not forget all these characteristics and try to match them! You will definitely make it!

In our article, we told you about how to get a managerial position (how to pass 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 most often in interviews 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 boss, 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 if this is the company's website or a call to the office.

Map answers to common questions

Interviews when applying for a job are of the same type and at the same time they are not similar to each other. Many have heard about 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 certain circumstances (for example, a conversation with a dissatisfied client) and they watch 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 anything.

To do this, make a card 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 the HR manager.

Interpret the employer's questions

"A" doesn't always mean "A", and two times two doesn't always mean four. Recruiters sometimes ask insidious questions, where behind the 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 security, work schedule, and so on. If you are asked if you had conflicts with management and how you resolved them, then most likely the HR manager wants to know if you tend to take responsibility or are used to shifting it to others.

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

Consider your non-verbal behavior

HR managers are people, not machines. They, like everyone else, pay attention to non-verbal signs: appearance, facial expressions, gait, gestures, and so on. An experienced professional can be refused just because he behaved incorrectly.

Consider body language ahead of time. If you habitually twitch your leg from excitement, then sit cross-legged. If you're tapping your fingers on the table, try something to occupy your hands with, like a ballpoint pen.

HR managers are people, not machines. They understand that you are worried. But the natural non-verbal communication increase your credibility.

Set taboo on some topics

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

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

There are topics on which you need to impose a taboo for yourself:

summary 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 am an excellent cook, I understand plumbing, etc.);
failures that demonstrate incompetence.

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

Contemplate to calm down

Interviews are nerve-wracking. You can forget your name, not to mention the demonstration of business qualities.

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

Taking a critical look at the firm and future colleagues can increase your sense of self-importance. Remember: a 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 to him.

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

Does the company have any actual problem? How do you think I can help you?
Could you describe your ideal candidate for this position?
What advice would you give to someone who is starting to work for your company?

There are also a number of questions that should not be asked. Which ones - click on the button below.

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

Are there additions? Write them in the comments.

There are a lot of vacancies for the head 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 that being a manager is exactly your path in life?

labor market in modern world similar to gladiator fights. And to get through this fight, you need significant advantages, will and a constant desire to achieve the maximum. In this article, we will cover the main points in preparing for an 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 look at candidates? Seeing the situation from their point of view, we can soberly evaluate ourselves. Adjust 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 and negotiate.
Efficiency of decision making.
Dedication to work, responsibility.
Self-organization and the ability to organize others.
Scrupulousness.
Self-development skills.
Ability to set goals and develop plans.
Orientation towards success.
The ability to manage your time.

All right. The company that has a comfortable moral and psychological climate works better. where employees are jointly responsible for the result of their work and are not afraid to take the initiative. To do this, the person who is at the head of all processes must be the undisputed 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 does not have a 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 the work that subordinates do. And, if necessary, he must intervene and help solve the difficulties that have arisen. So, he needs to know thoroughly the whole process that he manages. You need to plan 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? Are you ready to approach this ideal step by step, achieve better results, climb the career ladder, and at the same time sacrifice the interests of your personality?

Create a "face". Secrets of the image of the head

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

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. To create your image, you need to practice a little.

Exude confidence. Work in front of a mirror with facial expressions and gestures. If facial expressions or posture betray stiffness, stiffness, then fortune may turn away from you. You can not fold your hands "lock". Also, do not cross your legs. The best posture is to sit straight with your hands on the table or on your knees. Watch your posture. While talking, make eye contact. Otherwise, the interlocutor may get the impression that you have a problem with contacts.
Polish your speech. Leadership must be clear, concise and to the point. But at the same time, speech must be free. Don't let anxiety ruin your impression. Remember that communication skills are essential for a leader.
Appearance. You will benefit if you dress presentably and tastefully. Think about what kind of shoes you will wear. Pick your accessories. Your view is showing internal state. Show that your creed is neatness and accuracy. Your hair, arms, cuffs, everything must look perfect. But by no means fancy.
openness and optimism. It is important to show the interviewer that you are optimistic about the future: you have personal goals that you are striving for. If the interviewer sees that you are full of enthusiasm and ready to move mountains for the sake of the goal, you can safely count on success. But still, personal goals cannot contradict corporate ones. On the contrary, they need to be as close as possible.
Bold, active stance and 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 priorities the director of the company puts before 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 behavior

Since competition in the labor market is high, education and experience do not play a decisive role in choosing. So get ready for trials and anxieties. 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 a simple face-to-face conversation. And how to deal with them.

panel. During such an interview, two or three people can talk to you. Each of them evaluates a certain criterion. And then he delivers his verdict to the director who makes the decision.

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

stress interview. It is carried out 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 scream or, on the contrary, turn away and not listen at all. Try to be calm and natural. The candidate is deliberately angered to see how he copes with stressful loads.

The principle of behavior. Be courteous and answer questions with dignity. If you remain calm and act 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 analyzed further. The questions will be about the content of your work. Or simulate a situation from which you must exit in a certain way. So the employer extracts the necessary information about the applicant and evaluates the level of his training. Problems of psychological compatibility of employees often fall on the shoulders of the manager. Perhaps the employer wants to know about your experience in solving such problems.

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

Knowing about all the pitfalls that can block your path to finding the desired position, you can better prepare. By working on yourself, you will certainly achieve your cherished goal. After all, luck favors the strongest.

When applying for a job, many organizations and enterprises conduct interviews with candidates to get to know them better and understand if they are suitable for a particular position. This method is very difficult for those who want to get a job, because candidates are evaluated not only on their qualifications, skills and experience, but also on personal qualities. But an interview for a managerial position is even more difficult and serious: being a manager is not so easy. How to prepare for such an interview and behave at a meeting with the boss in order to get a job.

How to prepare for an interview

To successfully pass an interview for a managerial position, you need to cover all the factors. It is necessary not only to study the features of the desired position, but also to spend time learning about the company as a whole. An interview can drastically change the course of events, so you need to be prepared for it. Consider the following list of steps required for a successful meeting with your boss.

Do your research on the company. Look up the information on the Internet and determine what its mission is. Gather as much information as possible so that you can answer questions that may arise. You can also make a list of your questions about the company. This way, the employer will know that you were preparing for the meeting.
Get a complete picture of the management position that the company offers. Learn all the ins and outs of this position 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. So make sure you include these details in your resume.
Try to prepare in advance for the questions you may be asked. You must 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 clothes are clean and ironed and your shoes polished. Your appearance will be an indication of how high your standards are. So take the time to prepare up to the smallest details. Refrain from bright make-up and use of strongly scented perfumes.
The day before the interview, check that you have prepared everything. Make sure you have everything Required documents in the right amount. It is better to throw all the data additionally on a USB flash drive or disk.
Rest well before the interview. Go to bed not too late so that you don't look tired and sleepy in the morning. If you find it difficult to wake up early, set a few alarms to stay awake, drink coffee and cheer up a little.
Try to arrive at the appointed place as early as possible. There is no excuse for being late for an interview. Nobody 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. During a conversation 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 will help you understand how to prepare for an interview for a managerial position. 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 be interviewed for a managerial position, you must present 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's helpful to look at likely questions and read 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 likely you are to get the job. The way you conduct yourself in an interview with a manager will form the first impression of you and show the employer if you are a good fit for him.

An interview for a managerial position will consist of questions about your experience, management style, your accomplishments and expectations. The boss will ask various questions to determine how well you will fit into the organization and how effectively you will perform in this position.

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

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

When interviewing candidates, most executives focus on two aspects of managerial experience—concrete results and working with people. Both are equally important. If you are unable to manage in a team environment and in stressful situations, your other professional skills will not matter, especially when you get a job as an HR manager. 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.

To successfully pass an interview with managers, it is also important to prepare for general issues. Your employers will want to know what challenges you've faced in the past, what your career plans are, whether you can fit into the corporate culture. As a leader, you must set the tone for your team. If you don't share the values, goals, and culture of an organization, you won't be able to run your business effectively.

Interview with the boss: questions and answers

Employment decisions are more often made after a personal meeting with the candidate and communication with him. When you know how best to answer a particular question, you will be able to pass the interview correctly. Below are the most popular questions that employers usually ask and the best 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 individuals, are highly valued for their ability to create greater productivity for a company.

Take the time to write your thoughts down on paper. List two or three instances in which you experienced a problem with an employee. Think about how your intervention has led to positive change. For example, your criticism or advice has improved your attitude or performance. It's also important to remember that employers will be looking for managers who have the tact, patience, and perseverance to deal with chronically underperforming employees who resist 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 on your own or in a team?

Answer

Most bosses want to hear that you work well on your own, but are still open to teamwork and sharing responsibility 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, fit candidate. There is no right answer to this question, some situations in the workplace may require independence, while others require the efforts of the entire team.

Examples of the best answers:

“I am equally comfortable working both in a team and independently.”
"I really enjoy the variety of opportunities to work on my own on some projects and with a team at other times."
"I have both solo and team work experience and I see value in both approaches."
“In high school, I enjoyed playing football and performing with an orchestra. Each of the activities required a different kind of teamwork, but the overall learning goal was invaluable.”
“Team work energizes me, although I am also confident in my ability to work alone when I need it.”
"I'm very comfortable working in a team, but I can work on my own."
“I am comfortable working both alone and in a group. Everything 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'm comfortable talking face-to-face with a client, but I also find that having a team behind me gives me the confidence that I'll have someone to talk to and ask for help if I can't 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 picture of how well you perform under stressful situations. Avoid mentioning the reasons that caused tension if they were your fault (you delayed work and made it to deadlines). 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 having a lot of work to do or an approaching 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 at balancing multiple projects and meeting deadlines, which prevents me from getting stressed out often.”
“I react to situations, not stress. This helps relieve tension. For example, when I'm dealing with an unsatisfied client, I focus on the task at hand. I think my ability to communicate effectively with clients during these moments helps reduce my stress and also reduces any stress the client may be experiencing.”
“I really work better under pressure, I like to work in difficult conditions. In such an environment, I can do many different tasks.”

Question

Tell us about yourself.

Answer

Try starting with some personal interests that are not directly related to your work. Tell us about your hobbies: astronomy, chess, choral singing, golf, skiing, tennis, etc. If you play sports, it is worth mentioning this. Telling you that you are an avid reader or that you love solving crosswords or puzzles will help demonstrate your intellectual approach. Interests like golf, tennis and gourmet food can be of some value if you have to entertain customers on your new job. Volunteer work will demonstrate the seriousness of your character.

Want to know the most common interview questions? Here full list(with the most successful options response).

Some companies approach interviews in an unconventional way, but for the most part they ask standard questions (and get standard answers).

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

1. "Tell me about yourself"

If you're interviewing, you probably already know a lot. You've read the resume and cover letter, browsed the candidate's pages on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

The purpose of any interview is to find out if a particular candidate is suitable for the vacancy that needs to be filled, i.e. whether he has the skills and personal qualities that will enable him to do the job. Do you need a leader who can put himself in another person's shoes? 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 did what you did. Explain why you left your previous job. Describe how the university was chosen. Tell us why you decided to go to graduate school. Do not forget to mention that you traveled around Europe for a year and about the experience that you managed to get during this time.

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

2. "Name your biggest flaw"

Every candidate knows how to answer this question. It is necessary to choose an abstract weakness and turn it into dignity.

For example: “Sometimes I get so carried away with 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 keep track of time more carefully, but I really like what I do, and I just I can think of nothing else!"

So your "flaw" is that you spend more time working than everyone else? Hmm.

It would be much better to describe the actual flaw you are working on. Talk about what you are doing to improve. Perfect people do not exist, and you must prove that you can objectively evaluate yourself and strive to improve.

3. "Name your main advantage"

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

If you are nevertheless asked about this, formulate a precise and specific answer. You don't need to think long. If you are a problem solver, 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, give examples that prove that you can answer questions that have not yet been asked.

4. "Where 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 their whole appearance: "I need this job!" Others are modest (they also think that the interlocutor is experiencing a similar 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're interviewing, rephrase the question: "If you could start your own company, what would it do?"

This is a universal question, because everyone needs employees with an entrepreneurial streak.

The answer to it will tell about the dreams and hopes of the candidate, 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 he does not know, he can only describe his love for the cause and a burning desire to be useful. In fact, the company is making candidates beg to meet them. When asked this question, many companies sit back and cross their arms over their chests. This gesture is as if to say: "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 an interview, it's rare for candidates to think they've done their best. Perhaps the conversation went in an unexpected direction. Maybe the interlocutor emphasized 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, interviews are designed to learn as much as possible about a candidate, 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. Do not listen in silence, then to say: "Thank you, we will contact you." Ask clarifying questions. Ask for examples.

If the candidate asks 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 vacancy?"

Job search portals, newspaper and Internet advertisements, job fairs... Many people look 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.

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

Therefore, you should not just talk about how you found out about the vacancy. Say that 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 want jobs. Companies need people who need a company.

7. "Why do you want this job?"

Let's go into details a little. When answering this question, you need to tell not only that you want to work in this particular company, but also 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. "Name your main professional achievement"

The answer to this question should be directly related to the vacancy. If you say that you have increased production by 18% over the past year and a half, claiming to be the head of the personnel department, the interlocutor will find your answer interesting, but not at all informative.

Rather, tell us about a troubled employee you "saved", or a conflict between departments that you settled, or about subordinates who have received a promotion in the last six months ...

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

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

However, people who seek to shift their blame and responsibility onto others should definitely be avoided. Employers prefer those who focus not on the problem but on the solution.

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

10. "Describe your ideal job"

Formulating the answer, remember - it must be related to the vacancy!

However, it is not necessary to invent it at all. You can learn and develop whatever you do. Try to identify what skills you can acquire in the position you are applying for, and then imagine how those skills could be useful to you in the future.

Don't be afraid to admit that one day you might leave looking for 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're representing an employer, you should be wary):

Don't say that you don't like your boss. Don't talk about how you can't get along with your co-workers. Don't slander the company itself.

Focus on the benefit that this step will bring to you. Tell us what you want to achieve. Tell us what you want to learn. Tell us about how you plan to develop. At the same time, 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 will gossip about you too.

12. "What are the most attractive working conditions for you?"

If you enjoy working alone but are applying for a call center operator position, an honest answer may sound out of place.

Think about the job and the culture of the company as a whole (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 constant 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 can't do that, you should probably look for another job.

13. "Tell me about the most difficult decision you've had to make in the last six months."

By asking this question, the employer wants to assess the candidate's ability to solve problems and find arguments, as well as the willingness to take risks.

If you don't have an answer to this question, that's too bad. Everyone has to take complex decisions, regardless of position. My daughter once worked part-time as a waitress at a nearby restaurant. She constantly made difficult decisions - for example, about how to behave with a regular client, whose actions sometimes bordered on harassment.

A good answer should include the arguments that helped make the decision (for example, analyzing large amounts of data to determine the best direction to go).

A great 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 approach questions with different sides and make informed decisions.

14. "Describe your management style"

This is a question that is difficult to answer without resorting to platitudes. Try to give examples. Say, "Let me tell you about the challenges I've had in my leadership position. I think they'll give you a good idea of my style." After that, describe how you solved the problem, motivated the team, overcame the crisis, etc. Explain what and why you did, so that the interlocutor understands exactly how you manage other people.

Don't forget to mention the results you have achieved.

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

The people around us sometimes make decisions with which we do not agree. And this is normal, it is only important how we show our disagreement. (We all know those who like to stay after meetings to challenge a decision they publicly supported.)

Showcase your professionalism. Prove that you can constructively express your concerns. If once 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 wrong to you (we are not talking about unethical and immoral decisions).

16. "How would other people describe you?"

I hate this question. This is a waste of words! True, one day I nevertheless asked it and received an answer that I really liked.

"People would say that 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 that everyone and everyone likes me, but they can count on me because they know how I work.”

What could be better?

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

Ideally, this question should come from an employer who wants to define their expectations for a new hire.

You need to answer like this:

You are trying to determine what value your work brings. You don't just pretend to be busy. You do what it takes.
You learn to help all participants in the process - management, colleagues, subordinates, customers, suppliers, implementers...
You find out what works best for you. You were hired because you have specific skills and those skills need to be applied.
You achieve positive results, work with enthusiasm and feel like part of a team.

Use this answer plan, adding details specific to your work.

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

Many companies consider their culture to be 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 the perfect fit, don't admire activities that you don't really like. Focus on activities that allow you to develop - learn something new, achieve higher goals. For example: "My children are still very young, so there is almost no free time, but on the way to work and back I learn Spanish."

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

it complex issue. This is usually asked before you make a salary offer, and you must answer honestly, but not miscalculate.

Try the method suggested by Liz Ryan. Say, "I'm currently focusing on jobs that would allow me to earn roughly $50,000. Your job fits that criteria, right?" (Actually, you probably already know the answer, but why not play along?)

20. "A 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 for it to get out of the well?"

AT recent times questions like this are getting more and more popular (thank you, Google!). Perhaps your interlocutor does not expect you to 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, don't 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 choose the right company. Don't forget that an interview is a two-way process.

Sample questions:

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

If you haven't been asked this question, ask it yourself. What for? Good candidates tend to get down to business without delay. They don't want to spend weeks and months "getting to know organizational structure". They do not see the point in orientation activities and prefer to learn on the go.

They want to be useful now.

23. "Name three qualities that your best employees possess"

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

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

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

24. "What really determines the results of work in this position?"

By investing in employees, employers expect that they will bring him a profit (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 must find the right people, thereby minimizing the percentage of employee turnover, reducing the cost of training new employees and increasing overall productivity.

You need a repairman to fix appliances, but what he really needs to do is to effectively solve customer problems and build relationships with them so that they come back to him again and again.

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

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

Every candidate wants to know that his work is important to others.

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

Otherwise, the work loses its meaning.

Employees who love their job definitely recommend the employer to their friends and acquaintances. The same goes for managers - 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 of the quality of the working environment and the atmosphere in the team.

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

Every company has problems - technologies become obsolete, new competitors enter the market, economic trends are constantly changing. Not everyone has economic moats capable of protecting them.

Even if the candidate views the employer as a launching pad for a high jump, he still hopes for growth and development. By accepting the offer of the employer, each employee hopes to leave him own will, and not because the company was forced out of the market.

Let's say you own a ski shop. Another store has opened about a kilometer away. How do you plan to deal with competition? Or suppose you own a poultry farm. What will you do to reduce feed costs?

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 whether there is room for them in your plan.

Jeff Haden inc.com. Translation: Airapetova Olga

Career, Work, Study