The Best Answers to Tough Interview … - offer

71. Our company believes that employees should give back time to
the community. How do you feel about it?

Describe a time you gave something to a community or organization as
a volunteer. Do you go above and beyond what's expected of you? Do
you use your skills productively? Are you unselfish-a team player?
Demonstrate how your personal interests make you productive even
when you aren't being paid. What incentives other than a paycheck
inspire you?

"I believe that, too. In my last job as manager I told each of my
employees that they could spend one Friday afternoon a month at a
charity of their choice on company time as long as they weren't gone on
the same Fridays. Ironically, productivity didn't decrease at all; they
got more done in the morning-and I guess Friday afternoons weren't
that productive to begin with. I've spent my afternoons with an adult
reading program."



72. What community projects that can use your professional skills
are particularly interesting to you?

This interviewer wants to know if the candidate will be a good
corporate citizen. The question also gives the interviewer a sense of the
job seeker's values. Try to focus your answer on productive
applications of your work-related skills. Don't get sidetracked
describing a cause that doesn't demonstrate job-related skills. Avoid
discussing any charity or organization that may be considered
controversial.

"As a marketing person, I've offered free advice to our local high
school for its fund-raisers, as well as to a local real-estate office whose
success could help my rural community's real-estate values."


73. Describe how a sport or hobby taught you a lesson in teamwork
or discipline.

Tell about a time you had to use teamwork to get a desired result. Tell a
specific story, then explain how the same skill or lesson has been used
in your work.

"My football coach from high school taught me always to watch out for
the other guy. If you do, he'll cover you when you need him to. I've
applied that principle in all my work groups, especially on the trading
floor."



74. When you aren't at work, do you prefer to stick to a schedule,
or do you prefer to be spontaneous? Why?

Be careful that, whichever answer you choose, it's consistent with the
job you're interviewing for. For example, since accounting is a
profession that requires discipline and precision, your answer should
reflect your natural inclination toward agendas, schedules, and
precision. However, for a sales job, you'd probably want to show that
you're prepared to wing it. This question is essentially about your job
personality but is also about your compatibility with the job.

"My workday is very structured because I'm generally in four or five
meetings a day. On the weekends, I like to have a plan, but not
necessarily a set schedule. That in itself is a relaxing change of pace for
me, but I feel I'd be wasting time with no plan at all."



75. Tell me about an interest that you outgrew.

Describe a former interest or hobby that you no longer pursue, making
sure that the interest isn't related in some way to the job you're
interviewing for. Talk about why you outgrew the interest and how it's
not compatible with your current interests. Be sure to discuss how your
current interests are related to your career.

"Early on, I wanted to be a research physician. Then I spent time in a
chemistry lab and realized I wasn't looking forward to the next two
years of lab work. That's why I've chosen marketing for medical
equipment instead. It combines my respect for the medical profession
with a job that's more suited to my personality."



76. What would you do if I told you that I thought you were giving
a very poor interview today?

Interviewers like to ask stress questions like these to see how well you
hold up under pressure. Your best bet is to stay calm and relaxed; don't
allow your confidence to be shaken.

"Well the first thing I'd do is ask you if there was any specific part of the
interview that you thought I might have mishandled. After that I'd think
back and try to remember if there had been any faulty communication
on my part. Then I'd try to review possible problems I had
understanding your questions, and I'd ask for clarification if I needed
it. Finally, if we had time, I'd try to respond more fully and
appropriately to the problem areas you identified for me."


77. Tell me about your most difficult work or personal experience.

The interviewer will want to know how you hold up under pressure.
Describe a situation, either personal or professional, that involved a
great deal of conflict and challenge and placed you under an unusual
amount of stress. What, specifically, were the problems, and what did
you do to resolve them?

"One time my coworker went through rehab for six months after a
wreck, and I picked up a lot of additional work to help him out. I know
he would've done the same for me, and it's important for me to have that
kind of trust along the members of my work group."



78. If this were your first annual review with our company, what
would I be telling you right now?

For this question you obviously want to present a positive impression.
"I wish you would show up on time more," is definitely not a good
answer. Remember to focus on one or two of your key strengths based
on the personal themes you've developed.

"You'd be thanking me for a job well done and would be explaining how
you look forward to continuing to see good work from me.
Furthermore, I would anticipate your explaining how you really
appreciated my putting in extra time on some key projects and how my
creative thinking helped come up with some innovative solutions to
existing problems."



79. Give an example of a time when you were asked to accomplish a
task but weren't given enough information. How did you resolve
this problem?

Although this example may seem trivial, the candidate demonstrates
maturity and an ability to approach work conceptually. The interviewer
will want to know that you understand that just getting the job done isn't
enough. Your response should show resourcefulness and initiative.

"At my last internship, my supervisor, an account executive, asked me
to assemble five hundred press kits for a mailing. I wasn't sure in what
order the pages and press releases should go, but my supervisor had
already left for a client meeting. Afraid of putting the information
together in the wrong order, I managed to track down her cell phone
number and called her in her car. She explained the order of the
materials over the phone, and in the end I managed to prevent a
mistake that would have cost hours of work and a delay in the
mailing-not to mention a few headaches."



80. How have you handled criticism of your work?

The interviewer is looking for an indication of the candidate's
accountability and professional character. Describe a specific project or
work habit that caused you a problem until you faced up to it and
overcame it. Alternatively, you might describe a time you responded
objectively and professionally to particularly harsh or unreasonable
criticism of your work.

"I wasn't able to keep a good employee once who'd been in our
manufacturing facility for ten years. His job description was rewritten
to require computer skills. I offered to send him to night classes, but he
refused the help. I had no option but to replace him. In retrospect if I'd
encouraged him and other employees to acquire new training
periodically, he might not have been overwhelmed by the time his
position was reworked. Now I'm vigilant about encouraging my group
to attend seminars and courses to enhance their job skills and to avoid
becoming outdated."

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