':''

Beingpreparedis half the battle. resolution flnd a to at on lf you are one ofthose executive typesunhappy your presentpostand embarking a NewYear's to that of new one, here's helpinghand.Thejob interviewis considered be the mostcriticalaspect everyexpedition a you face-tofor as Onemust prepare it with the sametenacityand quickness one does brings facewith the future boss. for a fencine tournamentor a chess match.

1. Te! ll me about yourself. question an interview, extracareful in be that you don't run off at the mouth.Keepyour Since this is often the opening years, education, work history, and recentcareer to four tqpics:early answer a minuteor two at most.Cover Don'twasteyour best Emphasize lastsubject. Remember that this is Iikelyto be a warm-upquestion. experience. this pointson it.

2, Whatdo you knowaboutour organization? products services, goals, problems, revenues, reputation, image, management style, Youshouldbe ableto discuss or people, Let historyand philosophy. don't ! act as if you know everything But aboutthe place. your answershowth at you havetakenthe time to do someresearch, don't overwhelm interviewer, makeit clearthat you wishto but the and learn ore. m I've a Youmight startyour answerin this manner:"ln my job search, investigated numberof companies. You is one of the few that interests rs me,for thesereasons..." tellsme that you'rein all sortsoftrouble, andthat'swhy Giveyour answera positive tone. Don'tsay,"Well,everyone you'rethere. I'm here",evenifthat is why

3. Why do you want to work for us? you cangiveis "Becauselike people." I What elsewouldyou like-animals? The deadliest answer Here,andthroughout from having doneyour homeworks! o that you canspeakin the interview, goodanswercomes a has is termsof the company's needs. Youmightsaythat your research shownthat the company doingthingsyou would you. Forexample, the organization liketo be involved in waysthat greatlyinterest if is with, andthat it's doingthem your answershouldmentionthat fact and showthat you would liketo be a part ofthat knownfor strongmanagement, places greatdealof emphasis research development, and team.lf the company a on emphasize fact that you want the to createnew thingsand that you knowthis is a placein which suchactivityis encou raged. the orga lf nization stresses reverence numbers. for financial controls, vour answershouldmentiona m research, nd you a lf you feel that you haveto concoct answerto this question if, for exa ple,the company stresses an you-then you probably feelthat you shouldmentionit eventhoughit reallydoesn'tinterest shouldnot be takingthat you ringa job with that organization. interview, because probably shouldn'tbe conside! pl s Y o u rh o m e w o r k h o u l dn c l u d ee a r n i n e n o u g h b o u tt h e c o m p a n t o a v o i d p p r o a c h i n g a c e w h e r ey o uw o u l d n ' t e s i l g a y a b able-or wouldn'twant- to function.Since mostof us are poor liars,it's difficultto con anyonein an interview. evenif But you shouldsucceed it, your prizeis a job you don't reallywant. at

4. What canyou do for usthat someone elsecan't?

Hereyou haveeveryright,and perhaps obligation, toot your own horn and be a bit egotistical. aboutyour to an Talk recordof gettingthingsdone,and mentionspecifics from your resume list of careeraccomplishments. that your or Say skills and interests, makeyou valuable. combined with this historyof gettingresults, Mentionyour abilityto set priorities, identifyproblems, and to and useyour experience energy solvethem.

5. What do you find mostattractive aboutthis position? What seems leastattractive aboutit?
Listth ree or four attractive factorsof the job, and mentiona single, minor,unattractive item.

6. Why should hireyou? we yourexperience, yourenergy. question (see youranswer thinking terms yourability, and 4.) Create by in of

7. What do you lookfor in a job?
Keepyour answerorientedto opportunities this organization. Talkaboutyour desire performand be recognized to at for your contributions. Makeyour answerorientedtowardopportunityratherthan personal security.

giveme yourdefintionof [the position whichyou are beinginterviewed] for 8. Please . your answerbrief andtaskoriented. Thinkin in termsof responsibilities accountability. and Makesurethat you Keep position you attemptan answer. you are not certain. the lf ask reallydo understand what the involves before interviewer; or she mayanswer for he the question you.

contribution our firm? to 9. Howlongwould it takeyou to makea meaningful demands to and pullyour own weightfrom the first day,it Be realistic. that, whileyou would expect meet pressing Say to and well enough makea to mighttake six monthsto a year beforeyou couldexpect knowthe organization its needs majorcontribution

10.How longwouldyou staywith us? but in with the organization, admitthat you would haveto continue feel to saythat you are interested a career Thinkin termsof, "Aslongaswe both feel achievementoriented." challenged remainwith any organization. to

What'sYouropinion? your interestin establishing long-term with and that if association the organization, saythat you assume Emphasize a you performwell in hisjob, new opportunities open up for you. Mentionthat a strongcompany will needsa strongstaff. you are so wellqualified, employer Suggest the at that since Observe that experienced executives always a premium. are energetic company neverhavetoo muchtalent. can will get a fast returnon hisinvestment. that a growing, Say

style? 12.What is your management it. styleto knowthat your management stylewill ! complement Possible Youshouldknow enoughaboutthe company's identifying what'swrong,choosing solutionand implementing a taskoriented(l'll enjoyproblem-solving stylesinclude: ("Every decision makeis determined how it will affectthe bottom line"),or even I by it''),results-oriented management ("1'm paternalistic and them in the rightdirection"). committed takingcareof my subordinates pointing to

I

A participative styleis currently quite popular: open-door an methodof managing whichyou get thingsdone by in motivating peopleand delegating responsibility. As you consider question, this think aboutwhetheryour stylewill let you work hatppily and effectivety within the organ ization.

13.Are you a goodmanager? you giveme someexampres? you can Do feerthat you havetop managerial potential? vour experience vour energv, and

14.What do you lookfor whenyou hire people?
Thinkin terms of skills. initiative, andthe adaptability be ableto work comforta and effectively to bly with others. Mentionthat you liketo hire peoplewho appearcapable moving of up in the organization.

15.Haveyou everhadto fire people? what werethe reasons, how did you handre and the situation?
Admitthat the situation was not e! asy'but saythat it workedout well, both for the company and,you think,for the individualshowthat, likeanyoneelse, you don'tenjoyunpleasanttasks butthatyou can resolve them eticienttyana-in the caseof firingsomeonehumanery.

16.what do you think is the mostdifficultthingaboutbeinga manager or executive?
Mentionplanning, execution, cost-control. rort difficulttask is to motivate and ih" and manage emproyess get to something planned and completed time andwithin the budget. on

L7.What importanttrendsdo you seein our industry?
Beprepared with two or threetrendsthat illustratehow well you understand you mightconsider your industry. te€hnological challenges opportunities, or economic conditioni, evenregulatory or demands youcollect as your thoughts about direction whichyourbusiness heading, the in is

18.Why areyou leaving (didyou leave) your present (last) job?
Be brief,to the point,and as honestas you canwithout hurtingyourself. Referbackto the planning phase yourjob of search' whereyou considered topic asyou set your reference this statements. you were laidoff in an across-the-board lf cutbacl!sayso; otherwise, indicate that the movewasyo! ur decision, resultof your action.Do not the mention personalitv flicts. con The interviewer may spendsometime probing you on this issue, particularly it is clearthat you were terminated. if The "we agreed disagree" to approach may be useful.Remember your references likelyto be checked, hat are so don,t concoct storyfor an interview. a l.:. i';i.r'r..: r.,,..r1.i ;:..:r.t,rtl: a.!.::.. i;:,r: i:,;!r,,ii:5 ;::L ;,6uf *:enefi,l,: ;t ;i:l,i * r.ri:,iij ir:i ;

-a

Mentionthat you are concerned, You naturally, not panicked. are willingto acceptsomeriskto find the rightjob for but yourself. Don'tsuggest that security mightinterestyou morethan gettingthe job done successfully

20. In your current(last)position, what features (did)you likethe most?!The least? do
Be carefuland be positive. Describe morefeatures that you likedthan disliked. Don'tcite personality problems. you lf makeyour lastjob soundterrible,an interviewer maywonderwhy you remained there until now.

21.What do you think of your boss?
Be as positive you can.A potentialbossis likelyto wonder if you mighttalk abouthim in similar as termsat somepoint in the future.

22.Why aren'tyou earning moreat yourage?
Saythat this is one reason that you are conducting job search. this Don't be defensive.

23.What do you feelthis position shouldpay?

salaryisadelicatetopic.Wesuggestthatyoudefertyingyourselftoaprecisefigureforaslongasyoucandosopol Youmight say,"l understand that the rangefor thisjob is betweenS_ and$_. Thatseems for appropriate job as I understand Youmightanswer question the it." you the with a question: "Perhaps canhelp me on this one.Can you tell me if there is a range similar jobs in the organization?" for lf you are asked the question you mightsaythat you feel you needto know more duri! ng an initialscreening interview, aboutthe position's responsibilities beforeyou couldgive a meaningful answer that question. to Here,too, eitherby asking interviewer search (if the or executive one is involved), in research or you cantry doneas part of your homework, to find out whetherthere is a salary gradeattached the job. lf there is,and if you can livewith it, saythat the range to coemc rioht tn rrnr r

lf the interviewer continues probe,you mightsay,"Youknow that I'm making to now. Likeeveryone else,I'd $_ liketo improveon that figure,but my majorinterestis with the job itself."Remember that the act of takinga new job doesnot, in and of itself,makevou worth more monev. your contactthere may be ableto helpwith the salary lf a search firm is involved, question. or shemay evenbe able He to run interference you. lf, for instance, tellsyou what the position for pays,anI d you tell him that you are earning he that amountnow and would Liketo do a bit better,he mightgo backto the employer and propose that you be offered an additional 10%. lf no pricerangeis attached the job, andthe interviewer to continues press subject, to the then you will haveto restpond with a number. Youcannotleavethe impression that it doesnot reallymatter,that you'llaccept whateveris offered.lf you'vebeenmaking a year,you can'tsaythat a 535,000 figurewould be fine without sounding if as 580,000 you'vegivenup on yourself.(lf you are makinga radical careerchange,however, this kind of disparity maybe more r e a s o n a b l e dun d e r s t a n d a b l e . an ) Don'tsellyourself short,but continue stress factthat the job itselfis the most importantthing in your mind.The to the just how muchyou want the job. Don'tleavethe impression interviewer may be tryingto determine that moneyis the onlythingthat is important you. Linkquestions salary the work itself. to of to

At untilyou reachthe "final"stageofthe inteNiewprocess. say But wheneverpossible, as little as! you can aboutsalary in point,you knowthat the company genuinely interested you andthat it is likelyto be flexiblein salary is that neeotiations.

goals? 24,What areyour long-range your Relate goals advertised." phase yourjob search. Don't answer, wantthejob you've of "l Refer back the planning to 'in a firm likeyours, wouldliketo..." I you to the company areinterviewing:
7

25. Howsuccessful you you'vebeensofar? do so you'rehappy with the way your careerhasprogressed far. Giventhe normalupsanddownsof Saythat, all-in-all, quitewell andhaveno complaints. life,you teelthat you'vedone present positive your case, answer like,"Everything's An pictureof yourself, don't overstate but a andconfident is whenthingsweregoingbetter!I'm overjoyed!" likelyto makean interviewel wondertullI can'tthink of a time quietconfidence. is confidence usually The wonderwhetheryou'retryingto fool him , , . or yourself. mostconvincing