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Undoubtedly the most frequently asked interview question, and one that interviewees have the most
difficulty answering. Your answer should be in alignment with your career objective, which means you
shouldn't respond with comments about your hobbies, spouse or extra-curricular activities.

1. Start with a brief introduction. Talk about skills that are key to the position applied for.
„
m 'During my 2 years of experience as a sales executive, I have mastered the ability to prospect,
generate business leads, and motivate my team members to reach targets.'

2. Provide a summary of your recent work history. Keep your response limited to your current experience.
Don't go back more than 2 years.
„
m 'Most recently, at The XYZ Corporation, I was challenged with turning around a stagnant territory
that ranked last in sales. I developed an aggressive sales campaign that focused on winning new
accounts and nurturing the existing client base. Within six months, my sales team and I were able to
increase sales by 40 per cent.'

3. Tie your response to the needs of the organization. Demonstrate how your experience and skills are
transferable to the open position.
„
m 'I have learnt about the challenges your IT department is facing and my background in
developing software for leading companies will add value.'

4. Ask an engaging question. By asking a question, you gain control of the interview. Doing so will
alleviate the stress you may feel to perform.
„
m 'What strategies are currently underway to reduce the employee turnover and improve morale?'

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Highlighting strengths and accomplishmentsm Use specific examples to highlight your accomplishments --
explicit numbers, results and outcomes. Generic words are meaningless unless backed by data. For
example, instead of using the word 'significant', use a number or percentage instead.

Strengths that interviewers are looking for includem

Committedm Talk about the times you may have sacrificed a vacation to complete an important project.
Action-orientedm Quote an example from a past job where you drove the meeting, committee or project
that was languishing. Or, when a deadline loomed and you came up with a way to reach the goal.
Inquisitive/Curiousm Show how curiosity has served you well in the last job. For example, when was the
last time you knew there had to be a better way of performing a task, closing a particular deal or making a
sale to a difficult client? How did your questioning of the situation find a solution?
Long term approachm Talk about how you were able to see the broader consequences of a decision in
your previous company. Your contribution provided a viewpoint that others had overlooked.
The one question candidates love to avoid is, "What is your greatest weakness?" Do not give superficial
answers like "I'm a workaholic" or "I'm a perfectionist." These are boring and predictable. Interviewers can
even reply to them with, "That doesn't sound like a weakness. Now why don't you tell me about a real
weakness?" So, state a true weakness that doesn't have a major impact on your ability to do the job.
„
  
    
  

   
m 'In the past, I've had some trouble sharing
responsibilities with others. I felt I could do things better and faster myself. This sometimes backfired
because I'd end up with more than I could handle and the quality of my work would suffer. But I plan to
take courses in time management and effective delegation.'

, 'I am weak in accounts and had a tough time when I was asked to work on a project with the finance
team. I have enrolled in an online program on basic finance to overcome this.' (NOTEm You would not
want to use this example for an accounting or finance position.)

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If you left your last job under less-than-ideal circumstances, you probably dread this question. Here's how
to handle it. Never lie. If you were fired, don't say you quit. A background check will reveal this lie easily.
Don't say anything negative about your former boss, co-workers or company. Any negativity, frustration or
anger will only reflect negatively on you.
„
  
    
 
   
  

   
  m 'I was asked to leave for violating a
company policy that I feel wasn't communicated to me clearly. I should have taken the responsibility to
read all of the company policies and ask questions about those I didn't fully understand. That will be the
first thing I do in my next job.'

Any employer would love to hear stories about how employees take responsibility for their actions and
learn from their mistakes. Make sure they understand that what happened to cause you to leave your last
job was the exception, not the rule. Provide references or letters of recommendation to verify that your job
performance is above par.

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The interviewers aren't looking for a 'right' or 'wrong' answer to this one. They are more interested in
understanding your thought process. Show your ability to think logically and demonstrate problem-solving
capabilities bym
 Asking questions to confirm exactly what the interviewer is looking for.
 Explaining how you would collect the information and data required to develop a solution.
Telling them how you'd use the information you gathered to develop and analyse alternative courses of
action.
 Sharing your solution or recommendation, explaining how you feel it's the best option based on the
information you were given.

So, go ahead and create a smashing impression. It's all about the right answers.

 
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