geek evaluation

You have practised days for the answers to the crucial questions that shall determine your future; whether you get hired or not, that is. Gone are the days of “tell me something about yourself” because there is a new batch of questions that a great number of recruitment officers like asking job applicants. Geek Evaluation have rounded up its network of recruiting officers to dish out their top ten interview questions:

What circumstances bring you here today?
One recruiter laughingly shared her experience with a job applicant who answered, “I am here for the interview.” Obviously, you are there for that reason; you don’t have to reinstate. Simply answer something like: I am here to tell you what I know and what I can do for the company, and why I am the best applicant there is.

What would you say are your two greatest weaknesses and how do you work at overcoming them?
It is hard for someone to admit his weakness; what more to tell it to other people. Only someone with an assertive or strong personality can open that to public and that kind of candidate is what’s sought after by recruiters. It is believed that when a person acknowledges his weakness, he can counter it good positive disposition.

How do you alleviate stress?
With great power comes great responsibility, and with great responsibility you get stressed. Having a senior position (mostly) in a company comes with it and there are different ways to alleviate it. People have their own preferred comfort zone. For example: when a writer gets writer’s block syndrome, she seeks solitude by looking at the clouds or walking it off.

How do you typically deal with conflict?
Conflicts are normal in the workplace. When it is asked, simply recall a past experience and illustrate how you managed to deal with it. Just a tip: do not bad-mouth a past employer or a past colleague. This is a bad sign to all recruiting officers as they believe that you will have the tendency to badmouth them too in the future.

What are three goals you’ve achieved this past year?
Recruiting officers like hearing what a candidate’s plan for the future and the goals they have achieved in the past because if a person knows how to plan and succeed, he can do also do it the workplace.

What was a major obstacles or risks you overcame in the past year?
This is the type of question that requires no bull answers. Recalling past obstacles whether professionally or personally is all right.

When were you most satisfied in your job?
The interviewer wants to know what motivates you. If you can relate an example of a job or project when you were excited, the interviewer will get an idea of your preferences. “I was very satisfied in my last job, because I worked directly with the customers and their problems; that is an important part of the job for me.”

What salary are you seeking?
It is to your advantage if the employer tells you the range first. Prepare by knowing the going rate in your area, and your bottom line or walk-away point. One possible answer would be: “I am sure when the time comes, we can agree on a reasonable amount. In what range do you typically pay someone with my background?”

Why did you leave (or why are you leaving) your job?
If you are unemployed, state your reason for leaving your previous company always in a positive context. But if you are employed, focus on what you want in your next job based on your need to a newer environment, better remuneration, or more challenging responsibilities.

Why should we hire you?
Summarize your experiences: “With five years’ experience working in the financial industry and my proven record of saving the company money, I could make a big difference in your company. I’m confident I would be a great addition to your team.”