Get Hired, Girl!

The top 10 questions to prepare for before a job interview:

1. Tell me about yourself. People tend to ramble and act flustered when asked this question — save yourself from the embarrassment of unwarranted blabber and plan out your answer to this question days (or even weeks!) in advance.
2. What do you know about this company? Do not wing your answer to this question. Most companies have websites, so do the research before your interview and surf away. If you have friends in that company, ask them for tips, and try to squeeze out some information about the company’s structure and vision.
3. What are your strengths? If you’ve already handed in your resume, you should have a good grasp of what you’re good at. Familiarize yourself with your strong points, and don’t give the interviewer a long list of adjectives. Focus on what’s applicable to the job that you’re applying for. For example, tell them what a good leader you are, or how you work well under pressure — not about your amazing cramming skills.
4. What are your weaknesses? Keep your answers on the down low. Remember, what you say can be used against you!
5. Why do you want to work here? Be careful of brownnosing — you don’t want them to think you’re sucking up just to get the job. Be honest. And if you’re under pressure and have nothing left to say, tell them you’re in it for the experience. You can’t go wrong with that.
6. What have you accomplished thus far? Don’t brag, but don’t underplay your cum laude award or merit scholarship either. Highlight that position you held in your org, or tell them about that summer internship you took last year.
7. How do you deal with deadlines when pressed for time? Everyone has an 11th hour miracle story from college: How you survived your thesis defense — even though your partner was a total slacker, how you scored an A+ in your theology orals despite the calculus, and English midterms you had to study for during the same week. Dig up your old survival anecdotes for this tricky question.
8. Why should we hire you? Look back on question number 5, and play up your answer. If you want to work for the “experience”, tell them they should hire you because you’re willing to learn. Fresh graduates are like sponges, ready to absorb whatever is taught to them, albeit with a discerning eye and judgment. Highlight your strengths, and don’t let the interview end without giving them a reason to believe you’ve got ‘it.”
9. What are the last three books you’ve read? Every now and then, interviewers like to throw curveballs during an interview. This question is one of them. Don’t try to impress them by telling a big lie. You never know, your interviewer may have actually read all of Stephen King’s books — and then you’ll have a major problem.
10. Where do you see yourself in five years? It’s not the easiest thing to have a five-year plan, especially when you’re fresh out of college. However, now is not the time to dillydally. Draw up some goals. Remember to include the job you’re applying for somewhere in your five-year plan to score some brownie points. And don’t tell the interviewer you plan on becoming president and CEO of the company you’re applying for — just a tip! After handing over your business cards (if you have any), then you should be all set for the next callback.