Employer Interview Questions Article

ARTICLES

BOOKS

Tricky Job Interviews

Most people do not particularly enjoy going through the job interview process. It can often be difficult to talk about yourself, especially in a situation where you are essentially selling yourself and your skills to a potential employer. Trying to think of just the right things to say, or not say, especially under pressure, can make all the difference in the end result of a job interview - whether or not you get the job.

As if job interviews were not already stressful enough, you could very likely end up being interviewed by someone who uses tricky tactics in order to draw out the "real" you. There are a number of ways that an interviewer can introduce trick questions, and the best way to keep from getting tripped up on them is to be aware that it could happen, and then try to prepare for it ahead of time.

One way that some interviewers try to get at an applicant is to start discussing the bad or undesirable things about the job you are applying for. They may even appear to be confiding in you, as one employee to another. Most applicants pick up on this trick, because it just seems odd when a representative of a business points out negative things about the business they are representing, but some applicants get tripped up. They feel that the interviewer is just trying to be friendly by giving them a heads up about the position they are applying for. Do not make this mistake. If you follow their lead and agree with them about the negative aspects, they will probably get the impression that you are not going to appreciate your job or that you are easily swayed. If they bring up a negative, counter with a positive and stick to your guns.

The person conducting the job interview may also try to gauge whether you are the type of person to gossip or talk behind someone's back. If they mention the name of someone and ask if you know them, be honest, but never discuss how you feel about that person. The subject matter is completely irrelevent to the interview process, and your personal feelings about another person should never have a place in an interview.

Another trick is when the interviewer pretends that you have some added control over whether you get hired, by asking whether you would like to add anything else about yourself. This typically happens right around the end, and it is usually when the applicant finds themselves practically begging for the position, saying that they work hard or that they are self motivated.

In this situation, you want your last words in the interview to be positive ones that the interviewer is going to remember and take into consideration when deciding whether to hire you. If you come off as desperate and say something to the effect that you really, really need this job, it is not going to bode well for you. Your best bet would be to explain why you chose to apply at that particular company and how you expect your being hired to affect both yourself and the company. Remember, you need to keep it brief. If you allow yourself to ramble on and on, you might find yourself saying things that make you sound needy.

All in all, job interviews can be hectic and stressful, but they are a necessary evil. If you can make yourself aware of the pitfalls before you become trapped in them, you may find that you have a real edge on your competition.

PRODUCTS

Ma overstayed - can she still interview here? (Queens Courier)

Q. Can my mother interview here for permanent residence? My mother came to the United States from Nigeria on a visitor’s visa. Immigration gave her six months to stay, but she stayed longer. I am a U.S. citizen, over age 21, and I want to petition for her.

Great impostor spins local web of lies (Wisconsin State Journal)

It seemed fitting, even fortuitous, in early 2007, when an Irish-themed pub in Middleton landed a bartender who introduced himself as Jonathan Derr, hometown Belfast. His lilting brogue and gift for storytelling made Derr a picture perfect Irishman. As he mixed drinks and pulled pints at the Claddagh pub, he made friends. Close friends such as waiter Matty O'Dea, who liked him so much he made ...

In a Historic Year, Ifill Has One Thing to Do: Her Job (Washington Post)

ST. PAUL, Minn., Sept. 3 -- Amid the craziness of covering the political conventions, Gwen Ifill has been brushing off one interview request after another.

Seller with cold feet can get into hot water after backing out of deal (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Q: I have decided I don't want to sell my house. The problem is that I go to settlement tomorrow afternoon. What will happen? -- Via e-mail A: Whatever happens, it won't be pretty.

Board says no to tax cap vote (New Hampshire Union Leader)

The proposed city tax cap amendment will not be on the November ballot after a stalemate at City Hall ended at midnight and eliminated that possibility.