The Question Behind the Question

How comfortable are you in having a conversation about your career history and career goals? The answer to this question will go along way in determining how well you will do in your next interview. Remember that an interview is an elimination competition held by employers to find the best people. Therefore, you must be prepared to answer many questions and have stories ready as an example of what you are stating. Every question you are asked is designed to give the interviewer a better understanding of you. Let's review some questions now.

Question 1: Tell me about yourself?
You may be wondering why you are being asked this when the employer more than likely has your resume or job application.

Purpose of Question:
The interviewer is asking this to see how you communicate and which career highlights are important to you. You should stick to professional information only when responding to this question. I would not discuss age, marital status, religious beliefs, or hobbies.

Question 2: Tell me about a time when you had a conflict with a co-worker and how you handled it?

Purpose of Question:
This a behavioral based interview question that seeks to discover how you would handle a future situation based on how you have handled similar situations in your career previously. I would use the STAR approach in answering this question. The word STAR is an acronym for situation, task, action, and result. Using the star formula you breakdown your answer into three segments of: description of task, the action you took, and the final measurable result. By using the star approach you allow the interviewer to visualize and record your behavioral responses to specific events and make a better conclusion of your future performance.

Question 3: Are you competitive?

Purpose of Question:
This question is asked to determine how important it is to you to be as successful or more successful than your peers. Being competitive is an important trait for anyone managing a sales goal.

Question 4: Tell me why you left your previous employer?

Purpose of Question:
This question is designed to determine if you are a job hopper or to simply understand the logic you use regarding decisions effecting your career. If you have a job listed on your resume be ready to explain why you left the company.

Conclusion:
Lastly, continue to practice answering interview questions so you can further develop your confidence when you are on an interview. Mastering this task will demonstrate to interviewers who you are and why you are the best candidate for hire.