Hey guy another week bites the dust and here we are back again. This week were discussing practice interviews and the benefits we took from them. We definitely recommend that you sing up and give it a try.
Peter’s Interview Experience
I really found this interview practice useful. It gave me the chance to see questions in the format they will be used, as well as an opportunity to review what are deemed appropriate answers. The question that really stumped me off the bat was what was your favorite course and why? I had to really think about it and why it was important other then “it was easy” or “there were lots of cute girls”. This interview reminded me that interviewers are going to be asking very broad questions rather then content specific and its about knowing your strengths. Overall I really liked this and think if you guys are not already signed up for it you give it a try.
The one thing I took from this interview was that being optimistic and showing a true happiness in your life and what your doing will get you further then being bitter and resentful. In the example answer for the question what did you dislike about your former job they are very broad and positive with their example saying they chose to move on to better themselves and their careers. This is way better then saying “the stupid manager” or “all the hard work”
http://www.perfectinterview.com/online/text_viewer.asp?id=F5EB82FA-EB8D-46F3-9610-1C312EAA3C19&mediatype=flv
Mary’s Interview Experience
5.) Draft a reflection of at least a paragraph about your practice interview, commenting on the questions asked and your responses to the questions. You might comment on what questions were problematic. What were the strengths of your responses? What could you improve in your responses? How did you responses compare to the "Alternate Response"? What did you learn from the "Coach?"
I thought the practice interview was a great way to refresh myself as I beging to prepare to seek out a new career after graduation. I felt that most of the questions were fairly straightforward, and while I focused on formulating my own answers, the alternate responses were also very strong, offering a different and enlightening perspective. One of the questions I found the most difficult was, "Tell me what you think your most significant achievement was in the past couple of years". Since I've been so busy with school, I tried to emphasize my education as one of my strongest achievements within the last couple of years. In terms of improving my responses, I feel that most of my answers would stay the same, while taking into account the type of work/career that I am being interviewed for.
6.) At the end of the reflection give one question about interviewing or a piece of advice that you've gained in your interviewing experiences.
Honestly, I feel that one of the most critical aspects of the interview is being both comfortable AND confident within yourself. Prospective employers often ask questions that are not necessarily personal, but are reflective of your personality. In general, confidence is the best thing to have and exude.
7.) Click on "Review Saved Interviews." Click on the "Share" button. E-mail yourself your interview and include the links in your posting.
http://www.perfectinterview.com/online/review_gateway.asp?id=3020926&type=standard
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Peter-- “There were lots of cute girls” made me laugh, because I applied for a job as a lifeguard because of that once (I was hired, too, but I got a better paying job instead). You’re right, that’s definitely something that someone might not want to say in an interview.
ReplyDeleteThe questions were very broad, and I think that might be to give the applicant a chance to express her/himself in the answer. I think it’s better than a more specific question that would leave someone feeling pigeonholed in their response.
The practice interview gave me a lot of déjà vu from all the interviews I’ve taken before. I was therefore probably better prepared than most other students. I even went to a job placement center once that gave me some tips. The answers I gave were not very different from the coach answers most of the time, since they were very similar to what I’ve heard before.
ReplyDeleteOne question that I was not asked that I hate answering is “what would you say is your greatest weakness”. I’ve been told that you should answer that with a strength that is a weakness, such as “I’m a perfectionist”. So that’s how I usually answer, even though my actual greatest weakness in a workplace is that I am not a morning person to a nearly pathological degree.
I would definitely advise that answers to questions like the ones in the practice interview need to be prepared ahead of time. You don’t want to sit there and not know how to answer or say the wrong thing.
http://www.perfectinterview.com/online/review_gateway.asp?id=3021352&type=standard
http://www.perfectinterview.com/online/review_gateway.asp?id=3021353&type=standard
Peter-- Good point about being comfortable and confident. An employer probably wants to see that you can be those things under pressure or when you’re nervous. There is no way someone can be comfortable or confident walking into an interview not knowing how to answer questions. That’s how these practice interviews are so helpful.
ReplyDelete