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Eight Tricky Interview Questions

Does the thought of going on a job interview cause your palms to sweat and your body to break out in hives? Stop itching; you're not alone.

The vast majority of job seekers admit to emotions ranging from mild uneasiness to downright panic leading up to their interviews. The good news is there have been no reported cases of job seekers who died of nervousness during a job interview. So relax and follow these simple tips for keeping your anxiety at bay before and during your interview.

First, take the proper amount of time to prepare for your interview. Being well-prepared will boost your confidence and lower your anxiety. Experts recommend that you spend at least three hours preparing for each interview.

You should draft answers to the most common interview questions and practice speaking them out loud. You also should read up on the company with which you will be interviewing and prepare some questions of your own. This lets the interviewer know that you are truly interested in the company and the position.

As a final step in your preparation, make sure you have good directions to the interview site. Some job seekers make a dry run to the interview site to ensure the directions are correct and to estimate the amount of time they will need to get to the interview on time.

Going into a job interview is often like entering the great unknown. Although every interviewer is different and questions vary from industry to industry, there are some questions that are common across the board. Reading through the following questions and developing your own answers is a good place to start in your preparation. Once you have done that, remember practice makes perfect! Nothing impresses a potential employer like being ready for whatever is thrown your way.

Why should we hire you?
Here's the chance to really sell yourself. You need to briefly and succinctly lay out your strengths, qualifications and what you can bring to the table. Be careful not to answer this question too generically, however. Nearly everyone says they are hardworking and motivated. Set yourself apart by telling the interviewer about qualities that are unique to you.

Why do you want to work here?
This is one tool interviewers use to see if you have done your homework. You should never attend an interview unless you know about the company, its direction and the industry in which it plays. If you have done your research, this question gives you an opportunity to show initiative and demonstrate how your experience and qualifications match the company's needs.

What are your greatest weaknesses?
The secret to answering this question is being honest about a weakness, but demonstrating how you have turned it into a strength. For example, if you had a problem with organization in the past, demonstrate the steps you took to more effectively keep yourself on track. This will show that you have the ability to recognize aspects of yourself that need improvement, and the initiative to make yourself better.

Why did you leave your last job?
Even if your last job ended badly, be careful about being negative in answering this question. Be as diplomatic as possible. If you do point out negative aspects of your last job, find some positives to mention as well. Complaining endlessly about your last company will not say much for your attitude.

Describe a problem situation and how you solved it.
Sometimes it is hard to come up with a response to this request, particularly if you are coming straight from college and do not have professional experience. Interviewers want to see that you can think critically and develop solutions, regardless of what kind of issue you faced. Even if your problem was not having enough time to study, describe the steps you took to prioritize your schedule. This will demonstrate that you are responsible and can think through situations on your own.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?
The secret to this question is being specific and selecting an accomplishment that relates to the position. Even if your greatest accomplishment is being on a championship high school basketball team, opt for a more professionally relevant accomplishment. Think of the qualities the company is looking for and develop an example that demonstrates how you can meet the company's needs.

What are your salary expectations?
This is one of the hardest questions, particularly for those with little experience. The first thing to do before going to your interview is to research the salary range in your field to get an idea of what you should be making. Steer clear of discussing salary specifics before receiving a job offer. Let the interviewer know that you will be open to discussing fair compensation when the time comes. If pressed for a more specific answer, always give a range, rather than a specific number.

Tell me about yourself.
While this query seems like a piece of cake, it is difficult to answer because it is so broad. The important thing to know is that the interviewer typically does not want to know about your hometown or what you do on the weekends. He or she is trying to figure you out professionally. Pick a couple of points about yourself, your professional experience and your career goals and stick to those points. Wrap up your answer by bringing up your desire to be a part of the company. If you have a solid response prepared for this question, it can lead your conversation in a direction that allows you to elaborate on your qualifications.

Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor

Return of the Signing Bonus? Five Tips for Getting One

Rarely seen since the dot-com boom, signing bonuses are making a comeback -- sort of.

From the late 1990s until 2001, the national unemployment rate hovered around 4 percent. With business booming, employers pulled out all the stops, making sky-high salaries, stock options and signing bonuses fundamentals of offer letters.

"Back in the late '90s, companies felt they needed to move (on hiring a candidate) right away," said Dave Sanford, executive vice president of client services for Massachusetts-based contingency placement firm Winter, Wyman and Companies.

But when the country plunged into recession in 2001 and tightened the job market, fewer companies offered signing bonuses to new employees.

Now that the economy is improving, Sanford says he is seeing this incentive start to trickle back into compensation packages. But although hiring bonuses are up across most industries, they’re still the exception.

Sanford estimates that around 5 to 10 percent of his clients are offering sign-on bonuses, up from about 2 to 3 percent a few years ago.

"We were in such a deep recession in 2001 and 2002 that companies have been very conservative about throwing money around," he says. "Even now that the market’s getting better, they don’t want to be reckless. Everybody’s still watching their bottom line."

The decision to offer a sign-on bonus often boils down to supply and demand. Working in a hot industry or in-demand position can boost a candidate’s likelihood of getting a bonus upfront.

For example, the 2006 Culpepper Trends Survey on Hiring Bonuses indicated that half of all technology and life sciences companies use signing bonuses to attract candidates, with payouts ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.

Other times, hiring bonuses are offered when a candidate would have to leave something behind to join a new employer, says John Touey, a principal with Philadelphia-based retained executive search firm Salveson Stetson Group.

"(An example would be) if they are leaving mid-year or later in the year and feel they have earned a significant amount of the annual cash bonus, or they have options coming due in the near future that they will forfeit," he says. "...In other cases I have seen signing bonuses as a one-time consideration when the hiring company cannot match the annual base salary of a candidate."

To improve your chances of landing a signing bonus, heed the following tips:

1. Know what to expect.
Research the company and your industry to see whether your position or company frequently awards hiring bonuses. The Internet, industry contacts and current workers at your future employer are valuable sources of information.

2. Delay the money talk until after you get an offer. Wait until you have a written job offer before negotiating a sign-on bonus. Asking too early could make you appear difficult or greedy.

3. Be upfront. Employers are more likely to offer a sign-on bonus if accepting the offer would cause a candidate financial hardship. If you would have to forgo your year-end bonus or triple your commuting costs, say so.

4. Make sure you understand the terms.
Employers are increasingly tying a longevity clause to hiring bonuses. Find out if you will need to pay back part or all of the signing bonus if you leave before a specified period of time.

5. Remember that a signing bonus is a one-time deal.
If a company is offering a salary that seems too low, a signing bonus will only make up the difference for one year. Negotiating a more reasonable salary will have a long-term impact.

By: Laura Morsch, CareerBuilder.com writer
Laura Morsch is a writer for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

Five Ways to Get a Bigger Paycheck

You wrote a flawless résumé, applied to what seemed like thousands of jobs, networked 'til you were blue in the face, dazzled them in the interviews and got an offer for the perfect job. All that hard work has paid off... well, almost.

Don't sign the dotted line just yet -- if the salary figure on your offer letter seems too low, it probably is. Fifty-eight percent of hiring managers say they leave some negotiating room when extending initial offers, according to a recent survey by CareerBuilder.com.

Most hiring managers are accommodating when a candidate asks for a better offer, the survey found. Nearly six-in-ten say they will extend a new offer once, and one-in-ten will extend a new offer twice or more if they really want the candidate. Thirty percent of hiring managers say the first offer is final.

Attempting to negotiate a better offer is almost always in a candidate's best interest. In fact, nearly one-in-ten hiring managers say they think less of a candidate who accepts the first offer. Salary negotiations demonstrate a candidate's determination, persistence and recognition of the value he/she brings to an employer.

Here are some ways you can negotiate a better job offer:

Prove your worth.
Highlight specific accomplishments and results; 34 percent of hiring managers say this is the most convincing way for candidates to negotiate a better offer. Don't just say you managed major accounts, instead name specific clients and quantified results.

Have strong references.
A candidate's references are the first thing nearly one-in-three hiring managers say they consider in salary negotiations. Be sure the former employers and co-workers on your reference list are prepared to give glowing reports of your work. Provide them with a "cheat sheet" -- a brief rundown of your projects they're familiar with.

Know the market.
For one-in-ten employers, the best way to get a bump in your offer is knowing average salaries for your position and market. Online salary sites, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and industry Web sites are great places to start. Educate yourself on industry averages and those around your metro area.

Leverage your position with care.
Thirteen percent of hiring managers say showing an offer from another company and a willingness to walk away is an effective way to negotiate. But be careful with this tactic. It has serious potential to backfire and cost you the job completely.

When all else fails, ask for a six-month review.
If the job is everthing you've been looking for, but the hiring manager won't budge on salary, don't walk away. Ask if your new employer would be willing to conduct a review six months into your employment -- with a possible salary boost contingent on your performance.

Beyond the Job Search

After searching for months, perfecting your resume and landing a job interview, you blow it.  All of that hard work seems lost and you’re right back where you were again, sending out your resume and researching companies.  Were you weird at the interview? Or was it just a bad match?  Is all hope lost?

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The job searching process can be a hellish, time-consuming task, but it has to pay off sometime if you keep at it.  In the meantime you might pick up a few more skills than you think.  Here are some ways the search can pay off, even if takes awhile to land your dream job:

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Become a strategizing mastermind

While you’re researching the company, you’re not only prepping yourself for the interview, you’re learning more about your field in general.  That’s industry information you can take with you to the job you’ll land eventually, even if it’s not with that company.  Your knowledge of the competitors makes you look ambitious to learn more about strategizing for your company’s goals.

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Learn a little more about yourself

The steps to revamping your resume may seem tedious, but updating it can give you a mental assessment of what direction you want to take.  You’re unemployed.  Now is the time to think about what you really want and what you were missing from your last job.  Think about how your previous job skills can transfer to your next job or a new career change.  Not only will it help you when you land your next interview, it will save you from the torture of signing on for another position your not happy with.

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Revitalize your network

References are a key component of the job application process.  You may have done wonders for your last company, but new employers want a vote of confidence before they consider taking you among their ranks.  Update your references, browse over the list and call them.  Make a date to catch up.  If there was ever a time to strengthen your networking, it’s when you’re between jobs.  A few lunches and phone calls later will not only strengthen your support system, it may lead to a few new leads you wouldn’t have known about before.

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Zero-in your attention

Job searching demands attention to details.  A spelling error or bad formatting may take your resume from inbox to trash.  As you take the time to consider the specifics of your resume and cover letter, you’ll train yourself to be more aware of details and errors in the future.

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By Candace Corner

Communications Specialist

CareerBuilder.com

Tags: job search, resume writing, resumes, interviews, job searching, resume writing service, job research, company research, new jobs, networking, job networking, find a job, cover letter, job application, job advice

Three steps to job interview success

If you have an interview coming soon, it’s normal to be nervous.  Confidence is key, so here are three steps to help ease your jitters:

1. Step one – Get prepared

Going into an interview cold is a big no-no.  Take the time to learn everything you can about the company.  Visit the company’s Web site, talk to current and former employees and read any articles you can on the business.  Then, practice your answers to common interview questions so you can portray yourself in the best possible light. 

2.  Step two – Bring your A-game

Show up to the interview impeccably dressed in clean, pressed business-appropriate attire.  When you meet your interviewer, smile and offer a firm handshake.  Answer all questions calmly and confidently. 

3.  Step three – Follow up

Before you leave the interview, ask about the next steps in the hiring process.  As soon as you get home, write your interviewer a quick note thanking him or her for the opportunity to interview and reiterating your interest in the position.