Dated 25th Mar. 2004
How to deal with objections from the interviewer and use the situation to emphasise your strengths.
DAVID
Hyderabad
To help you get a hang of possible questions in an interview you need to be prepared for several diverse questions
Selling yourself: suggesting ways of answering questions that are good opportunities to mention your strengths and good attributes.
Giving information by suggesting ways of answering questions that are looking directly for information on your experience and skills set.
Gives suggestions for satisfactorily answering direct objections that the interviewer may have with your profile.
Make a list of standard objections that apply to you or that you encounter and work out the answers.
Turning negatives into positives: provides examples of how an interviewer's attempts to weed out your weaknesses can be turned into an opportunity for you to show your strengths.
Pre-preparing answers will significantly help to reduce the stress during the interview and help you do well.
Overcoming objections is an art in itself. The key is to remember that patience and persistence pay off. Don't take no for an answer. Try once more!
What can you do for us that someone else cannot do?
RAKESH
Dharwad
This is a tough question but don't let it intimidate you.
If you have properly understood the details of the job then try to answer with a unique combination of your skills/experience which others are unlikely to have.
Your professional experience from your resume to sell, resell and sell yourself again comes in handy.
Constantly review your résumé verbally, because your potential interviewer may not be listening or may not have caught all the information. Refer to the accomplishments and responsibilities listed on your résumé. Do not forget to repeat your selling points — your significant accomplishments and your responsibilities
For instance, you may be a web designer with previous experience as a marketing executive, which shows you have a commercial understanding of the objectives of the website.
This is a good occasion to end a question with a question, giving further scope for elaboration (e.g. would this role require me to participate in product development forums?)
How do you deal with a question on career change and how important it is to you (me)?
NEELIMA
Chennai
A major career change requires input from both your head and your heart. The new career must fit your personal life as well as your professional life.
Before you start an active job search, be sure you've made a wise career decision.
Improve your chances for a successful transition by taking time off to review your decision and make sure it is the right one for you.
Try to evaluate the question of change and how useful is it to you. (e.g. your ability to make major life changes, can you incorporate career changes in your life, will the career fit be an ideal one for you, will it work in your favour, and so on)
Review your skills. (needed for the new job, how good your job hunting skills are, and success rates in past interviews,
If you can't respond to each question positively, postpone implementing your career change decision.
If the career you have in mind does not meet your needs, explore other careers until you find one that does. Then ask yourself each of the questions again.
Your dream of changing to a better career can become a nightmare if you act impulsively. To be successful, the new career must fit with your interests, personality, skills and values.
It takes careful planning to ensure that a new career will be right for you at this point in your life.
Are age and discriminatory questions a part of the questions asked in the interview?
TEENA
Kerala
Despite age and other discriminations being in a grey area of ethical questioning, refusing to answer such questions isn't going to land you the job.
The interviewer's motive may not be discriminatory, but whom they ultimately hire is their choice. In the case of enquiring about age, they may be looking for reassurance that you'll fit in with the company culture and thrive, an older person with a youthful outlook, has the double advantage of energy and mature experience.
Emphasise the advantage of experience in your response; don't make excuses for your age.
Likewise, asking if you're married or plan to start a family could be an attempt by the interviewer to get an idea of your personal character.
Looking at the positive side, married people are perceived as more settled, and those planning a family are less likely to move.
On the other hand, if you are a lady, they may be trying to ascertain whether you're likely to take maternity leave within a year of joining them, so you'll have to use your own judgement here. As with many negative questions, these can be turned into positives with the right response.
How advantageous is it research a company before an interview?
SURESH
Mumbai
It is always better to research a little bit about the company you want to work for. Visit the location in person if it is a store or building open to the general public.
Visit the company's Website and talk to anyone you might know who works there.
What kinds of products or services does the company make or sell? What types of people work there? What are the typical hours this position requires? What are some of the day-to-day tasks that the job involves?
Make notes of things you want more information about and ask the employer about them at the end of your interview (it's always a good idea to have a few questions to ask the employer, anyway!). Researching a company and the position make you stand out in an interview.
It shows that you are really interested in working there.
For more information on how and why to research a company before you interview
The faq column deals with career concerns addressed to The C&K Management LTD. PO Box 2178, Secunderabad 500003 or emailed to faqs@cnkonline.com
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