By Jackie Simmonds, NEJS Blog Editor
As I attend networking and volunteer meetings sooner or later interviewing comes up. Did you get one? How did it go? What did they ask you? How do you think you did?
And then there is the second-guessing after the interview. Did I do a good enough job? Why did I say that? Did I sound intelligent enough? Do they like me?
So much uncertainty! How can we get back in control of this situation?
To get that control feeling back in place I began searching for the questions that industry experts are recommending interviewers ask job applicants. I found an article that was written by Brian Libby that talked about how the person interviewing candidates should structure an interview. I think this can be very helpful information as you are preparing to walk into that office and wow your potential next employer.
Here are the top 7 interview questions and the reasons interviewers ask them.
Question #1: “How about those Yankees?”
Purpose: Develop the rapport needed to get the interview off the ground.
Every interview should begin with an icebreaker. It helps nervous applicants calm down and builds a sense of trust.
Question #2: “Talk about a time when you had to overcome major obstacles.”
Purpose: Get a clear picture of the candidate’s past performance.
Variations on this question should actually comprise your next several questions. Don’t hesitate to guide the candidate through the variety of tasks (both tangible and theoretical) necessary to perform the job, and listen carefully to how he or she has handled such challenges. Pay attention to intangibles: some people are better at performing in interviews than on the job.
