PREPARING YOUR ANSWERS TO LIKELY QUESTIONS

Although each job interview is different, there are several common questions that arise in the majority of interview situations. It is essential for you to be prepared to answer them. Most interviews will contain the unexpected, but you can be prepare for some of the more common questions.

Remember:

• Highlight your knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Quantify your success whenever possible.
• Make sure you are presenting yourself in the best possible way. Videotape yourself during a mock interview and watch the playback.
  

Q: Tell me about yourself.
A: This is a wide open question that gives you an opportunity to shine. The best rule of thumb is to reveal something personal along with some interesting professional information relating to the company or position for which you are interviewing.

Q: What is your greatest strength?
A: The best way to approach this question is to imagine that you are being asked something more straightforward: Do you have what it takes to effectively do this job? This is your golden opportunity to toot your horn and make the case for why you are up for the task. If the most important requirement of the position is providing therapy to teens, then you will want to discuss in detail your patience, understanding of this developmental stage, or experience with this demographic. Have a list of character traits in mind that you feel comfortable attributing to yourself, along with supporting details.

Q: What is your greatest weakness?
A: Here is the perfect opportunity for you to share something they were not able to learn about you otherwise.

Too many applicants make the mistake of being brutally honest. You should not admit that you are a horrible procrastinator or that you are terribly disorganized. If you are interviewing for a position that requires a team player, this is not the time to admit you are somewhat of a loner. Some fail-safe possibilities that should avoid landing you in trouble:

• At times I can be impatient with those whose standards are not as high as mine.
• At times I can find it difficult to make time to relax.
  

With each of these responses you are basically saying that you do not approve of sloppiness or are a hard-worker. Not exactly bad attributes in an employee.

Q: How would you evaluate your last boss?
A: There's only one right answer here: a positive one.  Find something neutral to say if you are not able to offer anything nice.

Q: What would your last boss say about you?
A: Focus on the best aspects of your relationship with your last employer. You might say that your last boss would praise your ability to follow directions, work as part of a team, and achieve measurable results while also taking initiative on specific projects. This is a great chance to show how you improved in your last position if you received regular performance reviews. Again, focus on the positive side of your relationship with your last employer.

Q: What do you think you'll be doing in five years?
A: Use this as an opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to growing in a particular specialty or company. Combining your professional growth with loyalty to the employer will serve you best:

"I am not certain that it is possible to truly know where I will be in five years, but I can tell you my hope for the future.  I would like to immerse myself in this field and contribute to the success of this program.  In doing so, I hope that growth opportunities within the program will present themselves to me."

Q: What makes you the ideal candidate for this position?
A: "I've always wanted to work here" is a bad answer. "I really need a job" is the worst answer. An employer wants to hear what you will bring to them, not how they will help you pay your bills. If appropriate, talk about how you'd solve a problem, contribute to their program, or make their team stronger. You can apply your previous successes/knowledge/skills in this area.

Q: What's the most appealing part of this position?
A: Be able to provide one or two strong examples, although salary and location should not be among them.

Q: What's the most unappealing part of the position?
A: Focus on something minor and try to associate some type of positive comment with the unpleasant task. For example, a therapist might not enjoy the paperwork, but is able to use it for effective communication with other treatment team members.

Q: What do you think are the most important qualifications of a BLANK (position you are applying for...Clinical Director, Dietitian, Therapist)?
A: Be able to provide two or three action- and results-oriented responses.

Q: What is your management style?
A: Open door is ideal, but don't lie if it's not true. Be sure to work in that you communicate well with the entire staff, solicit their opinions, keep them informed, get the job done, and that you interact well with upper management equally well.

Q: How do you handle difficult situations at work?
A: Talk about your ability to negotiate and compromise while understanding that different people have different perspectives, and that new ideas often develop from controversy.