Tag: interview questions
Q: My company is looking to hire fluent bilingual employees this year (English & Spanish). My question is this: how do we know that they are truly bilingual? Thanks. Phillip
A: I recommend having a bilingual company recruiter interview the person in both languages; in your case, Spanish and in English. One of the questions for the job applicant should be about their level of proficiency in each language. Then, the question should be followed by a conversational test as well as a written exercise. This is the only way to make 100% certain that the job candidate is fully bilingual. Buena suerte.
January 21, 2010
Rounding out the list of common interview mistakes that job seekers make (see mistake #1 and mistake #2):
Mistake #3: Assuming a great resume is enough to get you hired
Don’t make the mistake of assuming that because you have been called for an interview the job is already yours. No matter how great your resume is, you still need to prove yourself in person. Keep in mind that the impression you make on a prospective employer may begin as soon as you walk through the company’s front door.
From the moment you arrive for an interview, remember your body language. Pay attention to your posture and your facial expressions, and keep a professional demeanor both with the person interviewing you as well as with anyone else in the company that you may meet. This includes the person that greets you in the front office or reception area.
I’ll share a true story with you about when I interviewed candidates for Account Executive positions at a broadcasting organization. Our receptionist was instructed to observe the candidates as soon as they walked through the front door. She noted how they greeted her, how they treated her, if they made small conversation with her, how they handled themselves at the front office, whether they talked to other employees — all of this while waiting to begin the job interview. If a candidate wasn’t polite and friendly to the receptionist, they would not be considered for the position, mainly because they were going to be working with people, and we took pride in treating people right. This illustrates how a job candidate’s behavior is taken into consideration from the moment they enter the front office.
November 12, 2009
In additon to the first big mistake job seekers make when it comes to interviewing (going unprepared to the job interview), here is another common mistake:
Mistake #2: Failing to impress with your overall presentation
In addition to preparing for an interview with practice questions, the job seeker needs to make a great impression with their overall presentation, which includes everything from their cover letter and resume to their personal appearance and follow-up. You can refer to these posts for cover letter and resume tips, as well as suggestions for appropriate interview attire and etiquette:
Feeling comfortable with your overall presentation includes feeling confident and positive about the challenge in front of you. Knowing that you have put forth your best effort helps you feel that confidence. If you don’t like your resume, or if you doubt that you look as good as you should for the job interview, the interviewer will see that lack of confidence enough, and may assume it reflects a lack of interest in the position or the company. Your attitude — what you believe about yourself — will be projected to the interviewer, and may have an effect on the outcome of your interview. Pay attention to what your overall presentation portrays to the interviewing company about you as a potential employee. You must believe for others to believe.
November 11, 2009
So you got the call! You’ve been asked to come for an interview with a prospective employer. Now what?
This week we’re focusing on common mistakes to avoid during the interview process.
Mistake #1: Going unprepared to the job Interview.
There are several things a job seeker can do to prepare for a job interview. First, spend some time thinking about your unique assets before the interview. To take it a step further, it is helpful to write out and read over a list of the qualifications which make you unique. Practicing answers to possible interview questions is another important tool that can help you feel more comfortable once you are face to face with an interviewer. (See this post, this post, and this post for some sample interview questions to practice with.) You may not know in advance which questions to prepare for, but you can use sample questions to practice speaking about your experience and your qualifications. No matter how much you have practiced answering sample questions, remember to listen carefully to the questions that you are asked in an interview, and don’t be afraid to iake a few seconds to compose your thoughts before answering.
Finally, taking some time to research and learn as much as you can about the company you are interviewing with can be a crucial step in your preparation. Coming to an interview with some questions for the interviewer about the company shows that you have put effort into learning about your potential future employer.
November 10, 2009
This week we have assembled a list of questions that might be asked in a job interview. (Find the first and second set of possible questions here and here.) Practicing your answers to these questions is a good way to prepare yourself for a job interview.
POSSIBLE JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:
• When looking at all of the positions you have held, where have you been the most successful?
• What did you like the most about your most recent job and what did you like the least about it?
• Tell me what personality traits you have that will help you succeed in this field?
• What do you think it takes to be successful in this field of work?
• What was the worst job you have had? The best?
• How long will it take you to start showing a profit for our company?
• Do you foresee any complications you might have in completing the job requirements as we have described them? Would you be able to overcome them, if any?
• Any concerns you personally have that might not allow you to do the job to your fullest potential?
• What does ‘Customer service’ means to you?
• Describe one instance in which you received POOR customer service, and one instance in which you got OUTSTANDING customer service.
• Please describe a time when you were praised by your manager for something extraordinary you did for someone else in the team.
• Do you have good oral and written communications skills? (In more than one language?)
• How good are you at writing business correspondence?
(Note: Everyone always replies: “I’m really good at writing letters”. However, this is not necessarily the case. That’s why some companies test this ability, including our company. Be prepared for this question, and with the answer. If you are not good at writing letters, be honest and say something like: “I would like to get better at writing letters and would love the company’s help if I’m hired. That’s a personal goal of mine.” Again, honesty is the best policy. Keep in mind that the interviewer can read your body language and whether you are comfortable writing letters or not. At this point, there could be a surprise for you. The company might ask for a written exercise as part of the interview process.)
November 4, 2009
This week we have assembled a list of questions that might be asked in a job interview. (For the first set of possible questions, read this.) Practicing your answers to these questions is a good way to prepare yourself for a job interview.
POSSIBLE JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:
• Who is the person you admire the most in life – and why?
(Note: Here the interviewer is looking for what personality traits you admire and want to emulate.)
• Recall an incident in which you felt like you made a major mistake. What was it and how did you remedy it? What did you learn from it?
• What type of manager do you like to work for? – Or – Describe “the boss of your dreams”.
• Tell me about a recent experience with a fellow team-member, in which your team member impressed you, and why?
• How do you handle stress related to the job?
• How do you feel about feedback on your work – both positive and negative?
• If you are chosen, what particular personal goals would you like to achieve in this career opportunity? Please describe.
• What are you looking for in your next job and in the next company that employs you?
• Have your previous jobs prepared you for greater tasks and responsibilities? If so, how?
November 3, 2009
This week we’ll focus on possible questions that a company could ask you in a job interview. This will allow you to think about the answers beforehand and prepare for the interview. (For more interview preparation tips, read this post.)
POSSIBLE JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:
• Tell me about yourself. What are your qualifications for this position?
(Note: Here, you must have a copy of your resume ready to hand over. Read this post for tips on writing a memorable resume.)
• What do you consider your biggest accomplishment in life so far?
• Tell me about your work experience. What makes you a good fit for this company?
(Note: You need to know enough about the position you are applying for to be able to spell out how your skills will be a benefit to the company.)
• Tell me what you know about this company and why you want to work here.
(Note: You must do your homework about the company you’re interviewing with before the interview, and be an expert on their products and services. Read this post for more about the importance of doing your research.)
• What kind of company do you want to work for?
(Note: This question will help the employer decide if you will fit in with their team.)
• What are your two greatest strengths – which would make you an asset to this company?
• What do you consider to be your two biggest weaknesses? Please describe in detail.
• What would you say were your most important accomplishments in your last (or present) job?
November 2, 2009
Now that we’ve discussed the soul searching, the mental preparation for the interview and the appropriate attire; let’s talk next about the interview itself.
First of all, be punctual. Get there a few minutes before your interview. Don’t be in a rush or get there late. Again, you’re making your first impression with everything you do. If you get there a few minutes earlier than your appointment time, talk to the receptionist and feel confident about what you’re getting ready to do. Be aware that the receptionist might take notes about how friendly you were, and may report your initial personality traits and personal manners to the interviewing manager.
When you meet the interviewer, shake his or her hand firmly, and when you say ‘it’s nice to meet you’, really mean it. Be happy that you’re there because your life might improve because of it.
Don’t be the one who breaks the silence…unless you have something really smart to say. In other words, avoid saying something simply for the sake of making conversation, or breaking the ice. Let the interviewer lead you to the interview location. Allow the interviewer to be the leader of the meeting. He or she will start asking questions next.
Answer all of the interview questions honestly, and to the best of your ability. Live in the moment. Be yourself. If the employer thinks you will be good a good addition for their team and will be an integral part of the company, they will hire you. If you did your best with the preparations and with the interview, and they didn’t consider you a match, that means that the particular company wasn’t the one for you. Don’t give up because you were not a match to that particular company. Continue with your job search and keep striving for what’s right for you.
After each interview, make certain that you follow up with the prospective employer, by sending them a thank you card, a letter, or an e-mail. Keep in mind that you are making the last impression of your first impression with the thank you card, e-mail or letter. Too many applicants skip this part of the interview process, and you don’t want to be part of that group, because you want to show gratitude for the opportunity. Also, it’s polite and it’s part of doing your best.
If your interview is successful and you get the job, celebrate, because you made it happen. If you don’t get the job, keep searching for the right company for you – one where you can grow and flourish. Don’t rest until that happens, and don’t settle for anything less than what you really want.
You can start browsing bilingual jobs at www.bilingualjobfair.com right now — a great opportunity might be waiting!
October 22, 2009
Over the past twenty years, I have interviewed dozens of candidates to work in various positions within my organizations. Because I like to be fair to every candidate, I have created a standard interview process which I follow every time. I start with a first interview, with standard first interview questions. Then I have standard second interview questions. And finally, the third interview questions, along with a 30 to 45 minute written exercise. If the candidates impress me each step of the way, and if they pass the written bilingual exercise, then, they are hired.
From the 40 interview questions I ask the candidates, I have five questions which are my favorites; because they tell me a lot about the person I’m talking to. And that’s my goal in the hiring process, to get to really know the person.
1.“What are your two greatest strengths – which would make you an asset to the company?”
This question allows the candidate to tell me what they consider his or her two largest attributes to be, and I can see his or her passion (or lack of) about who they are. I can also see if they believe in themselves, and I can tell if those attributes apply to each aspect of their lives or just to their business world.
2. “What do you consider to be your two greatest weaknesses. Please describe in detail.”
This question makes the interviewee think on the spot and I can see how frank they are about describing their weaknesses. I can also see if they have humility about their weaknesses. This question can result in the interview lasting a short period of time, or the candidate going to the next step in the hiring process. For instance, if I am looking for someone independent and organized and the person says that their biggest weakness is that they need to be more organized, then, I can not hire that person. We would both be miserable working with each other. Another example would be if I am hiring a sales person and the person shares with me that their weakness is that they don’t like to cold-call in person, or on the phone, that they don’t particularly like making sales presentations or do not want to travel. These weaknesses would be detrimental for a sales position. The stories about the weaknesses can make or break the interview. Honesty comes through in the words and the eyes of the candidate.
3. “Recall an incident where you made a major mistake. What was it and what did you do about it?”
Nobody is perfect, and I like to see what the person considers to be a mistake, and what they learned from it. My favorite answers are the ones where the candidate has thought of their mistake to the point where they have really learned something, and when they go the extra mile and tell me what they learned from their mistake, along with why they think they wouldn’t make the mistake again. Sometimes the person tells me about a personal mistake, and other times it’s about a business mistake. I listen very carefully and try to connect with the person and with their story. I look at their comfort level explaining the situation, how they handled the mistake itself, and how they handle themselves explaining the mistake. I like when a person admits their mistake and notifies whoever has been affected by it. Humility and humor is what will advance the candidate to the next round. Since I do not want a person working on my team who considers herself or himself a ‘perfect person’, the interview will not get to the next stage if I sense a lot of ego or if the ‘mistakes’ are considered ‘too insignificant’ by the interviewee. Personally, I like to work with people who learn from their mistakes and become better each and every day.
4. “Who is the person you admire the most in life – and why?”
I really like this question because it connects me with the personal side of the candidate I’m interviewing. It tells me the attributes they look for the most in a person. Do you know what the most common answers are? Either “my parents”. Or “my Mom”, or “my Dad”. Or “My first manager”. And it usually follows with a personal story of a parent overcoming obstacles along the way and making it happen in their lives. Or it can be a story about a manager of the candidate believing in the candidate and giving him or her business tools to succeed, or their fist chance in the business world. I can again see the passion and the belief in oneself with this question, and with the answer.
5. “Tell me about yourself.”
This question gets asked in every interview. It’s okay if the person pauses at first when they hear the question, and then proceeds to tell me a little about their personal life and about their accomplishments in the business world. It’s okay when they don’t have enough experience but talk about their college accomplishments, their community service, the clubs or teams of which they have been a part. I like it when the person is brief, to the point, while telling me good stories to portray who they are. What I’m about to tell you is a true story. One time I asked this question to a gentleman and he spoke non-stop for over 45 minutes about himself. No, we did not have a second interview. Although I like confident people, he believed in himself a little too much. With this question, again, I can tell the person’s belief in herself or himself, their passion for life and for their career, how involved they have been in the community, college, community service, sports teams or in clubs. I can tell if the person is a “people-person” or not. The stories don’t lie. The body language doesn’t lie. The interview question “tell me about yourself” tells me all I want to hear; who the candidate is and if he or she should become part of our team.
June 16, 2009
