CVs and Interviews

We have posted previously about how to answer difficult interview questions and answers.  Below is another popular question that is regularly asked during interview.

What are your career goals?

This is a popular interview question but my view is that it is often used as an “interview filler” with no real purpose for interviewers except maybe make them look more skilled that they actually are. This aside you should answer effectively as the interview may be trying to assess your career goals and plans. The question can also be used to assess if you have a structured approach to job hunting rather than a ad-hoc approach applying for a wide variety of different jobs. Focus on short to medium term goals. Goals will vary from one jobseeker to next but a short term goal common to any jobseeker would be to secure a challenging job. I guess that is why you are at the interview. If you are career focused and have clearly defined goals then outline these to the interviewer.

Read about another difficult interview question and how to approach your response.

CVSANDINTERVIEWS is a career website dedicated to jobseekers and it provides free INTERVIEW & CV advice to help jobseekers succeed in the job market. You will find information and articles relevant for all levels of the organisation and all industry sectors.

The Happy job hunting!!

A crystal ball is the only possible way to predict what questions you will be asked during interview. Unfortunately most jobseekers don’t have access to a crystal ball. You can still play a percentage game and the percentages are high that an interviewer will ask about your reasons for leaving previous employment. This provides them with valuable information about a number of areas including motivation and career planning. Like the other interview question topics there can be a number of variations of this interview question. I have outlined a popular version below.

Why did you leave (are you leaving) your current role?

If you currently employed then provide an answer putting your response into a positive context. Many job seekers relate negative information about previous work and employers but this is not advisable. Yes we can all make a mistake and a wrong career choice but be careful how you tell this story. If you are unemployed again try to put a positive spin on it. For example if you were made redundant tell the interviewer how you escaped the initial redundancy round or how the whole plant closed.

CVSANDINTERVIEWS is a website dedicated to helping jobseekers and it offers INTERVIEW & CV advice to help jobseekers succeed. We have information for all jobseekers especially jobseekers in Ireland – Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Galway, Sligo, Meath, Kildare, Louth and all other counties.The Happy job hunting!!

Related sites to help you with Interviews and CV’s. Careersandjobs – CV4jobs – Measurability

Employee motivation is a critical ingredient for job performance and job success. Organisation use many tools and techniques to increase employee motivation through initiative like training, development, rewards, benefits and much more. Organisations focus on this area when hiring staff too so you can be sure that an interview question around motivation will arise at interview. I have highlighted a popular interview question about motivation below.

Describe when are you most motivated in your current job?

With this question the interviewer wants to know what motivates you or what makes you tick in a working environment. Ideally you will relate an example of a task or project when you were at your most enthusiastic or excited. This will provide the interviewer with information about your preferences. An example of this would be – “I was most satisfied in my previous job when I worked with large customers resolving financial problems; this area of my job offered great fulfillment.”  Remember to focus on what the interview is seeking for in a new recruit and what will be the key roles and responsibilities in the job. For example if working with numbers and data is a big part of the job this might be a good area to focus. I do stress to candidates that you can lie and tell fibs BUT remember that they may work and you could land a job that you hate or are not suited to.

More interview questions – article 1 and article 2

CVSANDINTERVIEWS is a website dedicated to jobseekers and offers free INTERVIEW & CV advice to help you succeed in the job market. We have information for all jobseekers across all industries with some focused article for jobseekers in Ireland – Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Galway, Sligo, Meath, Kildare, Louth and all other counties.

P.S – Need an interview coach?

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I always point out to jobseekers that it is difficult to predict what interview questions will arise at interview. Addressing the most common interview questions will provide a good foundation helping your confidence and performance at interview. One topic that keeps coming up at interview is the area of previous employers. A number of possible interview questions can arise and I have highlighted the most popular of these questions below.

How would your last boss describe you?

It would not be appropriate to use any of the following descriptions; lazy, uninterested and stupid. Instead focus on the positive comments. Many jobseekers find it difficult to answer this question as they struggle to talk themselves up. If this is you, then hunt out your previous performance appraisals and quote them at interview. For example “During my last performance appraisal my boss said that I was a dedicated worker with innovative ideas”.

It is quite easy to fabricate and make stuff up for this question BUT remember one thing – the interviewer may have the opportunity to talk to your old boss during the reference process. When answering this question it is important to focus on what the client is looking for in an individual. For example if they are seeking someone innovative or with a good attention to detail they may like to hear that your previous boss saw these traits in you.

CVSANDINTERVIEWS is a site dedicated to jobseekers and provides free INTERVIEW & CURRICULUM VITAE advice to help you. We have information for all levels of jobseekers across all industries in Ireland (Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Waterford, Sligo, Galway, Meath, Kildare, Louth and other counties).

The Happy job hunting!!

During interview it is important that jobseekers stand out in the crowd and get noticed. This can be the difference between getting the job and not. There are many opportunities for the interviewee to stand out at interview but often interviewers will provide you with the opportunity by asking a related question. At interview employers want to know why you are different and what makes you special. This patenting interview question can come in many forms and I have outlined one of the more popular versions.

What can you do for us that other candidates can’t?

This is a popular question at interview and it is basically asking you to outline your unique selling points (USP) or outline what makes you stand out from other applicants. You will have identified this information during your interview preparation and self assessment and your USP’s could be skills, personality traits, qualifications, previous work experience that will help you stand out from other applications? Answer this question in a structured summary format. Many jobseekers tend to ramble more in the hope that they say something relevant that strikes a cord with the interviewer. They blurb the usual stuff like hardworking, energetic with the ability to work in a team or on own initiative. Judging from most CV’s I read this is not unique!!

CVSANDINTERVIEWS is a website dedicated to jobseekers and offers free Interview & CV advice to help you succeed in the job market. We have information for all jobseekers across all industries with some focused article for jobseekers in Ireland – Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Galway, Sligo, Meath, Kildare, Louth and all other counties.

The Happy job hunting!!